The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence

1. Embrace Stillness for True Intimacy

We cannot fully realize true intimacy with God until we learn how to come before Him in quietness of spirit, mind, and body.

Quietness is essential. In a world clamoring for our attention, cultivating an atmosphere of stillness is paramount for deep communion with God. Biblical figures like David and Elijah found God not in the noise, but in quiet waiting and a "still small voice." This "knowing" goes beyond mere information; it's a vital, personal union with Christ.

Conquer distractions. Our quest for intimacy faces two primary hindrances: external distractions and internal chaos. We must consciously desire, deliberately plan for, and diligently pursue quietness. Henri Nouwen notes that solitude often reveals inner chaos, making deliberate planning for quiet time crucial, even if it initially feels like "wasting time."

Practical steps. To overcome inner noise, write down distracting thoughts, confess sins, and focus on a vision of Jesus. Madame Guyon advises withdrawing from wandering thoughts by turning inward to the Lord's presence, rather than directly engaging them. This patient, persistent discipline, though challenging, brings profound peace and allows us to "Be still, and know that I am God."

2. Contemplative Prayer: A Biblical Path to God

Simply stated, Eastern meditation is man-centered while Christian contemplative prayer is thoroughly God-centered.

Reclaim ancient practices. Many Christians shy away from terms like contemplation and meditation due to their association with occult or New Age practices. However, these are time-honored, biblical methods of drawing near to God, which the Church must reclaim. Lydia of Thyatira, with her "open heart," exemplifies the vulnerability and transparency required for this journey.

Distinguish the true from false. Christian contemplative prayer is not a technique, relaxation exercise, or an attempt to empty the mind. It is fundamentally about divine love between God and a person, presupposing a personal relationship with Him. It focuses on surrendering to what God can do, rather than what self can achieve through forced concentration.

Benefits and cautions. This practice immerses us in the "silence of God," freeing us from addiction to words and fostering a deeper awareness of His presence. It's an exercise in letting go of self-control, self-surrender, and purifying intentions to desire God alone. While it brings profound peace and healing, we must balance it with outward service, guard against spiritual gluttony, and ensure our intentions are pure, advancing rather than retreating.

3. The Soul's Journey: An Interior Castle

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

We are God's temple. The Christian faith reveals that the infinite Creator God dwells within us, His people, a mystery Paul calls "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Just as Moses' tabernacle had an outer court, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place, our souls have "many dwelling places," leading to the innermost room where complete communion with God is found.

A progressive journey. St. Teresa of Avila's "Interior Castle" describes the soul's journey through seven "mansions," each bringing it closer to union with God. My own vision of seven doorways mirrored this progression, from forgiveness and cleansing to lowliness of heart, grace, mercy, and ultimately, union with Christ. Each stage requires growth in character and a deeper surrender.

Transformation through humility. The journey begins with humility and self-knowledge, recognizing our baseness against God's greatness. As we progress, we learn to depend on God's grace, moving from duty-bound living to love-motivated surrender. The "silkworm" metaphor illustrates this: the soul, like a silkworm, must "die" to self-love and self-will to be transformed into a beautiful butterfly, ready to fly in God's greatness.

4. Extravagant Worship: Wasting Your Life on Jesus

Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Total abandonment. Extravagant worship is about lifting our entire being—heart, mind, will, and emotions—to God in unhindered, unashamed devotion. It's a total abandonment of our will, a profound response to the God who longs for intimacy. This kind of worship is a "lost art" in much of the modern Church, often replaced by rigid ritual or shallow formality.

Mary's radical example. Mary of Bethany's act of anointing Jesus with costly perfume, wiping His feet with her hair, was a breathtaking display of lavish love. Despite criticism from Judas and others who deemed it a "waste," Jesus defended her, affirming her heart. Mary, a "sinner" who had received much forgiveness, poured out everything she had, symbolizing her life "wasted on Jesus."

God welcomes our fragrance. Jesus saw past Mary's reputation and into her heart, affirming her deep love and gratitude. When we, like Mary, recognize the depth of our sin and the magnitude of Christ's forgiveness, our hearts overflow in authentic worship. Our unique "fragrance," poured out in love, becomes a sweet-smelling incense to God, leading us into deeper intimacy and a life completely devoted to Him.

5. The Power of Pondering: Meditating on Christ

Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Reflecting on Jesus. Pondering, meaning to "weigh in the mind" and "think deeply," is a crucial facet of Christian meditation. The "Mary Model" invites us to reflect on the Person of Jesus Christ, just as His mother Mary "treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart" concerning His birth, destiny, death, and resurrection.

Joshua's example. The "Joshua Model" focuses on meditating on God's promises and principles. Joshua's success in leading Israel was tied to his command to "meditate on it day and night," chewing on God's Word until it became deeply internalized. This practice cultivated his faith, obedience, and boldness to make audacious requests of God, which God honored.

Transformation through focus. Pondering the Person of Jesus helps us align our perspective with His. The Transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John saw "Jesus alone," illustrates how focusing on Christ makes everything else fade into the background. This deep reflection, like a cow ruminating on its cud, allows God's Word to nourish our souls, leading to radical transformation and Christ-likeness.

6. Union with Christ: The Ultimate Goal

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Paul's life mission. For the apostle Paul, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." He counted all his achievements as "rubbish" compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ, seeking to be "found in Him" and conformed to His death. This total identification with Christ, a willingness to embrace both His resurrection power and His sufferings, was the driving force of his life.

Abiding in the Vine. Jesus Himself illustrates union with Him through the metaphor of the vine and branches: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me." Our life, purpose, and fruitfulness flow directly from our attachment to Him. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Practicing His Presence. Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite, discovered that union with Christ meant a "habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God." This continuous awareness of God's presence, cultivated through simple attention and tender affection, brought him profound joy and freedom. It's a state where God becomes our sole desire, transforming our personhood without losing our individuality.

7. The Fasted Life: Cultivating Lovesick Hunger

She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

Anna's devotion. Anna the prophetess, a widow who served God with "fastings and prayers" in the temple for decades, exemplifies a life of radical abandonment. Her consistent devotion positioned her to recognize the infant Messiah, demonstrating that a fasted lifestyle cultivates spiritual sensitivity and prepares us for divine encounters.

Restore the discipline. Fasting, a common practice in biblical and early Church history, has become a "lost art" in modern Christianity. It's a powerful weapon for spiritual warfare, an aid to intimacy with God, and a key to releasing His presence. From Moses' supernatural fasts to the early Church's practice before ordinations, fasting has always been linked to God's special works.

The Bridegroom Fast. The ultimate motivation for fasting is a "lovesick heart" for our Bridegroom, Jesus. As prophesied by Jesus, "when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast." This end-time fast, described in Joel, is a consecration that precedes the outpouring of the Spirit and prepares us for Christ's return, accelerating revelation and deepening our intimacy with Him.

8. Walking Through the Tabernacle: From Inward to Outward

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Divine pattern for approach. The design of Moses' tabernacle, with its outer court, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place, illustrates a divine progression into God's presence. Each station—brazen altar, laver, candlestick, shewbread, altar of incense—represents a step: cleansing by blood, washing by the Word, illumination by the Spirit, fellowship, and finally, the ministry of prayer closest to God's heart.

We are God's temple. Under the New Covenant, Christ, our Great High Priest, has torn the veil, granting us direct access to the Most Holy Place. As believers, we are now the "temple of the living God," carriers of His presence, and priests offering a ministry of prayer. This understanding transforms our approach, allowing us to come with confidence to the throne of grace.

Prophetic intercession. This is where quiet, contemplative prayer unites with scriptural praying. As "watchmen," we remind God of His Word, pleading His promises, attributes, and the blood of Jesus. Prophetic intercession is receiving God's immediate burden—His word, vision, or promise—and praying it back to Him, birthing His purposes on earth. It's a "birthing" in prayer, flowing from sweet intimacy.

9. Carry the Fire: Transformed to Transform

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Ignited by divine fire. No one who journeys into intimate communion with the Lord remains unchanged. Isaiah's encounter, where a "burning coal" touched his "unclean lips," transformed him into a prophet consumed by God's fire. This touch, often painful, cauterizes our wounds and prepares us to carry His flame.

Hearts burning within. The Emmaus road experience, where Jesus explained the Scriptures, caused the disciples' "hearts burning within" them. This internal fire, ignited by the Spirit of revelation, signifies Christ taking residence within. When Jesus vanished, they were left with "living coals of fire" in their hearts, a profound internal anointing.

From inward to outward. We are called to be carriers of this fire—His presence. The inward journey of proceeding into His presence and cultivating quietness of soul is incomplete without the outward journey. The fire on the altar of our heart fuels us to carry His love to a lost world. We must practice His presence daily, maintaining the internal fire so that it overflows, transforming us and enabling us to touch others with His cleansing love and grace.

Last updated: February 20, 2026