The phrase “practice the presence” is your secret weapon to transformation. By seeking daily sustenance from Jesus, you cultivate an atmosphere for inner transformation and divine encounters with the Lord.
Food is a necessity; Jesus is a necessity. We understand that our bodies can’t thrive on processed food alone, and the same is true for our souls. Attempting to feed our soul with filtered, highlight-reel, worldly, perverse, false, and watered-down substances won’t cultivate true life.
I’m curious to know, what is your everyday practice? This question is not about limiting or restricting God to a box but about consistently seeking Him daily. Is this your practice? It must become a part of your life, where your conscience is always aware of His Presence.
What is “Practice the Presence”
Practicing the presence is a lifestyle of continual conscious communion with God in all matters of life, committing everything we do to Him, from the most mundane to the most extraordinary.
Why Practicing the Presence Matters
#1: God desires a personal relationship with you. Reflect on John 3:16-17 and Revelation 3:20. Jesus wants to come into our lives and share a deep and meaningful relationship with us. He extended a great invitation, inviting us into a place of fellowship with Him.
#2: You can do nothing apart from Jesus. The Word tells us that apart from Him, nothing is possible (John 15:5). This applies to extraordinary achievements and our day-to-day lives— raising children, controlling emotions, serving faithfully, or making wise decisions. It’s very possible to be active without Him, as are the enemies of Jesus and many others. Yet, we can do nothing of real eternal value without Jesus.
#3: You get to experience Heaven on earth. While we are physically here on earth, we can be spiritually connected to Heaven and experience the blessings of Heaven on earth. This phrase ‘heaven on earth’ is found in the disciple’s prayer; this is how God’s glory and agenda are embodied on earth. God does not require our prayers or cooperation to carry out His will, but He invites us to participate through our prayers, hearts, and actions to see His will fulfilled on earth as it is in Heaven.
Don’t Put Limits on God
While this is not to put intense constraints upon yourself, where you fall into a check-the-box routine, it is a calling that pushes you to serve and worship God in a whole new way where you begin to serve Him in all you do. Because of God’s grace, you don’t have to be discouraged by the natural resistance you might experience while practicing this. Your flesh is going to put up resistance, you’re going to want to sleep in, you’re not going to feel like it, and the noise of this world will try to get in your ear and distract you. While initially, you may think of this practice as a waste of time, continue with it, even in difficulties, and you will see results.
How to Practice the Presence Daily (Practical Steps)
Step #1: Make the Commitment
Commit today to make every effort to partner with the Holy Spirit to practice the presence daily. Start by surrendering your whole heart and inviting the Holy Spirit in.
Step #2: Resolve to spend quality time in prayer and engaging scripture daily.
The Word of God is the foundation, and prayer is your communication line.
Step #3: Do All Things as Unto the Lord
I don’t know about you, but I can sometimes complain about doing stuff I don’t wanna do instead of doing everything as though I were working for the Lord (Read Colossians 3:22-3:1). The intent here is to represent Christ in all we do.
Step #4: Feed your Spirit throughout the Day
It’s like having a spiritual snack throughout your day. Listen to a sermon on YouTube or a podcast about whatever you are dealing with, which will help you see it from God’s point of view. 9 times out of 10, you have that one airpod in your ear, so why not be intentional about what we are listening to?
Step #5: Read books that stir your spirit.
I am a book lover and have some books to ignite a fire in your belly for the Lord. If you’re interested in our free top 5 book recommendations guide, you can check those out right here.
My Approach to Practicing Presence
I jumpstart my day with the Lord with prayer and spending time in the Word, which I’ve been looking forward to every morning. I am reading the Bible in a Year, but I encourage you to read where the Lord leads you. As I get dressed, I often play a devotional in the shower. On my way to work, I might listen to worship music, a podcast, or a YouTube channel. I do the same in the office. In addition, I aim to read books on the topics I’m studying. For example, this year, I’m focused on communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, so I’ve been reading books about the Holy Spirit.
As a wife and mother, it’s important to me to be present with my family. I’m always considering how to respond to the girls in ways that are edifying, uplifting, and pleasing to God. We also center our conversations around the Lord as we talk about both good and challenging topics. This has been my approach to practicing the presence in my own life.
7 Benefits of Practicing Presence
#1: Enlightenment and Understanding
To be enlightened is to ‘give light’ or ‘illuminate,’ which signifies deep understanding and wisdom. Engaging the practice of presence allows the light to bring about transformation. We can understand light as the transition from ignorance and darkness to understanding and spiritual insight. Expect His Word to give you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (Psalm 19:8, Proverbs 2:6).
#2: Delight in His Word
When a person finds delights in Jesus, it stirs a hunger, joy, and desire that influences their appetite. When we delight in Jesus, we take pleasure in His Word and His Presence. Consequently, when you practice the presence, anticipate a growing desire for more of Jesus, leading to a deeper intimacy with Him.
#3: The Conviction of the Holy Spirit
To understand the conviction of the Holy Spirit, one must see it as instructive, disciplinary, and corrective. Conviction involves exposing, refuting, and convincing. As our advocate and helper, the Holy Spirit works within us to expose sin, examine our hearts, and restore us to the right path (John 16:8).
#4: You Become More Prayerful
A life without prayer is the most explicit expression of pride, suggesting you believe you can go without heavenly support. Intimacy with God is developed in prayer, enabling you to recognize your dependence on it. Without prayer, you can accomplish nothing. As you pray, you invite the Holy Spirit to lead you.
#5: Encounters with the Holy Spirit
Practicing the presence cultivates an atmosphere of encounters, which means “to come in contact with.” Encounters are experiences that make a person, a thought, or a thing real to you. Encounters are cultivated in consistent prayer, worship, and study of scripture.
#6: Empowerment of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 10:1 says, “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” Significantly, this truth remains today: God equips those He calls (including you and me). Therefore, you have the power to cast out demons and heal when you practice the presence.
#7: Receive Strategies for Daily Decisions
The Bible is not all God wants to say but the foundation for everything He is saying to us today. The Greek word “rhéma” is understood as the spoken Word of God. It’s when a word from the Lord is so specific to you that it gives direction. As you practice the presence of the Lord, the Holy Spirit will begin to provide you with strategies for your everyday life (Jeremiah 29:12-14).
I encourage you to start practicing the presence because transformation is inevitable in His presence. Jesus is a necessity, and He wants to be our daily sustenance. By seeking Jesus daily, we cultivate an atmosphere for inner transformation and divine encounters with the Lord.
This post was all about how to practice the presence daily.
Thank You
We hope you loved exploring this topic with us. We pray it blessed you to surrender, dwell, and abide in God’s Presence. Now, it’s your turn— try implementing one of these tips this week. Leave us a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going!
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