Enjoying the Presence of God: 4 Ways to Experience His Joy
The sinking sun shone white behind a cloak of low-hanging stratus clouds as the kids dipped their nets into a swampy bog. Through the lens of my camera, three bouncing bodies splashed and giggled. Enjoying the presence of God in his created world was filling us all with life-giving energy.
I had intentions of capturing dozens of images on the camera that weekend at the cabin.
Sadly, the morning after exploring the ponds, I awoke with a virus and barely managed to get out of bed throughout the rest of our weekend.
As I lay in the tiny, dark cabin bedroom, I was thankful for the previous evening—for catching red-spotted newts, collecting frog eggs, and enjoying the silence as we sat beside the beaver pond.
Embracing the memories from the previous day helped me endure the rest of the weekend’s misery.
The past dozen years of motherhood have taught me that I might not be able to embrace every moment of every day. Enjoying the presence of God isn’t easy when life is challenging.
Perhaps you want to be more aware of God’s presence as you aim to enjoy him, too. Let’s talk about how to enjoy him in even the challenging seasons of life.
Enjoying the Presence of God
Over time, I’ve learned the secret to enjoying the presence of God is learning that God is not disappointed in us when we don’t embrace every moment.
Instead of aiming to love every moment, we can cherish the golden threads of joy woven into the tapestries of even the darkest days.
Instead of aiming to love every moment, we can cherish the golden threads of joy woven into the tapestries of even the darkest days. #EmbracetheMoment #Joy #GiveThanks Click To TweetLet’s look at several practical ways to embrace the golden moments of our days as we aim to enjoy God’s presence.
Practical Insights on Enjoying the Presence of God
Take the time to pause and breathe—especially when you feel overwhelmed.
The next time you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, stop and breathe. Spend a few minutes inhaling slowly and paying attention to the way the air expands in your lungs. Exhale more slowly than you inhale, and you will calm your limbic system in the process.
While you breathe, it might help to repeat a phrase that helps you feel centered and focused on God. Try repeating a single, calming word or Bible verse.
I often repeat the truth from Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
This verse helps me return to peace and connect with God. I become more aware of his presence and less focused on the overwhelming circumstances surrounding me.
Pause and ask God to open your eyes to beauty.
Just as the white glow of sunlight through stratus clouds looked beautiful over the bog, ask God to open your eyes to beauty hidden within your ordinary moments.
When we watch for beauty, we often notice that beauty is all around us.
Ordinary scenes like children playing, maple leaves waving in the wind, and grass clippings on the sidewalk begin to look beautiful when we look with intention. Enjoying the presence of God can be as simple as stopping to thank him for a sunny day or a freshly mopped kitchen floor.
Cue yourself to look toward Jesus throughout your days.
Visual reminders can help us to look toward the Lord and be more aware of his presence throughout our days. I often wear a different ring, bracelet, or even an elastic hair tie around my wrist to remind me to look toward the Lord throughout my days.
In different seasons, I have written notes, placed picture frames with Bible verses on my desk, or set the timer on my phone to remind me to pause and pray. I simply stop what I’m doing, look to God, and spend a moment enjoying his presence with me.
Do what works for you.
The secret is to visually remind yourself to pause throughout your day as you look to the Lord and enjoy his presence.
Slow your pace to create space for enjoying the presence of God.
Lastly, enjoying the presence of God is more challenging when we are constantly hurried. Years ago, I decided I was going to do everything in my power to quit hurrying for good. I still occasionally succumb to haste, but I fight against it.
Here are two examples of embracing moments by living slowly:
As often as possible, practice mindful eating. Don’t watch TV or scroll through your phone while you eat. Instead, focus on enjoying each bite. Pay attention to the flavor and texture of your food as you chew and swallow. Talk to God while you eat and even imagine him sitting with you. In this way, you are enjoying the presence of God while you nourish your body.
Another idea is to try mindfully cooking. Prepare the food slowly. Mix and stir with intention. Enjoy the aroma and the texture of the food. Think of the farmer who harvested the wheat for your flour or the sugarcane for your sweet baking project. Talk with God as you cook. Open your heart to allow God to minister to you throughout the process.
Remember, God is not angry with you for failing to embrace every moment of every day. Ask God to open your eyes to more of his gifts, and you will begin enjoying his presence. This is the perfect place to begin.
A Free Devotional to Help You Enjoy the Presence of God:
Would you like less stress and deeper peace in life? I have a gift for you today: My free online devotional Unrushed: Slow Your Pace and Embrace the Fully-Present Life. This is a powerful journey into a life that is more present and joyful. Click here, and I’ll send this free online devotional to your email inbox!
These Two Books are Free on Kindle Unlimited as eBooks and Also Available in Print:
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or for 12.99 in print right here. (You can sign up for a free three-month Kindle Unlimited trial if you are not a member.) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
