Practicing the Presence

Sensible-thingLiving in the Spirit
October 21, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1-8 (9-20)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,
   and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him, and be radiant;
   so your faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,
   and was saved from every trouble.
The angel of the Lord encamps
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
   happy are those who take refuge in him. –Psalm 34:4-8

Think of the look on a child’s face the first time he stand alone, the first time she ties her own shoes, or the first time he rides a bike without training wheels that is what radiance looks like. We often talk of radiant brides and there is a radiance on the face of athletes when they score the winning shot or cross the finish line. It is amazing how fulfilled even the last contestant in a marathon looks when he or she crosses that line. God is with us continuously when we are trying to be the person God created us to be.

What fears are holding us back from fulfilling our goals? Have we chosen the right goals in the first place? While there is fear in possible failure is there deep satisfaction in each point of progress we make as we pursue our dreams? This Psalm is attributed to David as he feigned madness to avoid being killed. (1 Samuel 21) Whether that is true or not, David practiced the presence of God in all of his achievements and even in his sins. We would do well to practice God’s presence in every aspect of our lives for the Lord is good.

Prayer:
God, who touchest earth with beauty,
make my heart anew;
with thy Spirit recreate me,
pure and strong and true. 

Like thy springs and running waters,
make me crystal pure;
like thy rocks of towering grandeur,
make me strong and sure.* Amen.

*First and second verse of God who Touches Earth with Beauty by Mary Susanne Edgar see at http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/110/hymns..unknown..god_who_touchest_earth_with_beauty.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.