How is your walk with the Lord? That question reminds me of one I was asked several years ago when I went to breakfast with a friend to meet one of his friends and have a time of prayer together. When I arrived his friend and I were introduced and he immediately looked me in the eye and asked, “So what’s the Lord doing in your life, Dave?” That question was unexpected and stopped me short. The beautiful thing was I had an answer. Why? I had been practicing the presence of God.
A few years before that in the late 70’s, I had been urged to read a short book entitled ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’. It was a book compiled from the life of a man born in France around 1610. He was born, Nicolas Herman, and later became a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery. He took the name, ‘Lawrence of the Resurrection’ or Brother Lawrence. This little book helped me immeasurably to understand that I too can have a personal daily minute by minute relationship with my Father in everything I do. It is as precious to have that moment-by-moment relationship as it is to have set times of prayer and fellowship.
I have learned that through the Holy Spirit within, I can experience the daily walking with Christ that the apostles experienced. Whenever I have asked the Holy Spirit for help in dealing with an issue or problem I am facing, He is always there willing to give counsel. Look with me at 4 scriptures that Jesus spoke to His disciples while they were together in the upper room before his crucifixion.
John 14:15-17 (NIV) “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:25-27 (NIV) “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 15:26-27 (NIV) “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify…”
John 16:7 (NIV) “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
In the ESV the word counselor is translated ‘Helper’. There is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit is both my Counselor and Helper. After recently reading The Call to Ride, someone asked me why I am so good at touching others with Jesus. Well first I don’t think I’m very good at it at all, and second, I’m often afraid, but when I ask the Lord for answers on how to deal with what is in front of me, He gives me the answer or the words to say.
Back in 1980 I was taught something by the Lord concerning remaining calm and simply asking Him for help. He desires to be involved in my life every moment. The window on my 1970 Pontiac had come out of the track. So, I decided to take the inside door panel off and try to fix it. The first thing I needed to do was to remove the window crank (no power windows then) and the door handle. They were held on by small clips. No problem, I got a piece of wire coat hanger and bent a little hook in it and went to work grabbing the clip to remove it. As I pulled, it popped off, and flew into the grass alongside the driveway. I was upset, I knew I needed that little clip when I put everything back together, so I began looking for it. I crawled around on my hands and knees for close to 45 minutes looking for that lost clip. Mind you that is all I had done so far on my project. Finally, I decided that if I was on my knees anyway, I might as well pray about it. So, I told the Lord I had lost that little clip and I needed it to complete what I was doing. I asked Him if He would help me find it. Suddenly it was like the Lord spoke to my heart saying, “Relax, you don’t need that clip right now, go ahead and finish what you are doing, and I will help you find it.” I suddenly felt a peace about the whole thing. I had been very upset over losing that little clip. I went back to work.
I finally got the door panel off and got the window back in the track and began putting the panel back on. I had three things left to do. I had to put one of the armrest screws back in and then put both the window crank and the door handle back on. It was getting close to the time I needed that lost clip. As I put the Phillips head screw into the armrest and went to put the screwdriver into the screw, in the grass reflecting in the sun was that little clip. The point of the screwdriver was like an arrow pointing to it. Do you realize the precise timing necessary for the tip of the screwdriver and the sun reflecting off that clip to be lined up together? That was the beginning of consciously seeking the Lord when unsure or afraid, and waiting for the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit to speak into my heart.
When I was asked that question, “So what’s the Lord doing in your life, Dave?” I had an answer. I was used to practicing the presence of God. To this day most every morning as I get out of my bed and my feet hit the floor I pray, “Lord, would you make me aware of your presence throughout this day.” By faith that changes everything. As I walk through my day the Counselor is with me. He speaks to my heart and directs my paths. I just need to seek His will.
When my heart says speak to that person, I’m often unsure how to approach him or what to say. That’s when asking the Counselor is the perfect thing to do. There are times when I say something and ask myself, “Did I say that?” It’s like wow, where did that come from. Oh yes, then I remember the Counselor at work.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always working together to bring glory to God. He wants to work in our lives and wants to direct us according to His will. We find His will in the Word of God, and we also find his will through that still voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts directing us when our resources are lacking.
The practice of the presence of God is a way in which God directs us and leads us in our daily walk. It is not always easy to do that, and I blow it frequently but when I seek Him and yield to Him instead of being affected by the pressures of this world He always comes through.
If you desire to read that book ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’ here is the LINK. It is a free download, or you can read it online. I know it will bless you as it has me. What God truly desires of us is the practical everyday understanding of his immense love for us and our desire to bask in that love moment by moment as we walk through life.
In Christ,
David PK VanderKlay