When You Wonder WhySample

Practicing the Presence

“How do I balance my personal and spiritual life?” -Lily, 18, Texas

We see in the Bible that God is always with us. When we become followers of Jesus, his presence comes to dwell inside us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because God is always near, as Christians, it should be normal for us to carry on a conversation with God, not just in the morning and evening, but throughout the day.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, we are commanded to “rejoice always, pray continually” and to “give thanks in all circumstances.” But what does it look like to live this out? We can develop this kind of lifestyle through simple practices that help our hearts hear from the Lord, both in the quiet, still moments and the loud hectic ones throughout our day. This can be called “practicing the presence.” And as we learn to pray continually, talking to God becomes a natural part of our relationship with him.

Prayers of adoration, examen and meditation are all ways for us to pray, each giving us different ways to communicate with and cultivate a life-giving relationship with our Creator.

Prayers of adoration give God glory simply for who he is. One easy way to do this is by praying the Psalms. You might even try to write a psalm in your own words, expressing your thanks and praise to God.

Prayers of examen help us to reflect. As you think back on your day, ask God to reveal the ways he has been present with you and reflect on whether your thoughts, feelings and actions have been pleasing to him. This is a way for us to allow God to help us see ourselves more clearly and be transformed by him. Try praying this way by reflecting on your day before going to sleep at night.

Prayers of meditation allow God to address our will, calling us into repentance, obedience and transformation. One way to do this is by reflecting on the truth found in the Bible and asking God to show us how it relates to our lives.