Present in His Presence

We live in a world that is always asking for our attention. A notification, a text message, an email, a social media post, work, family life, school, church family, and the list can just go on.

“What happens when we are constantly connected, but rarely fully present?”

That’s what I asked myself as I finally decided to put down my phone.

It looks like going to church and still not hearing Him, searching for what’s still plain in sight. Busy trying to see what’s next, we miss what and who’s right here with us. It looks like having a talk with Jesus and still not encountering who He is. You can have a conversation with someone and still not understand who they are.

In John 4, Jesus has a conversation with a woman at the well that turns her regular conversation into an encounter. A conversation that turned into a revelation of something most didn’t know. God was seeking, and intentionally sent Jesus to see about this woman. He knew He could trust her to share her testimony with others.

“When was the last time you had an encounter with Jesus?”

Today’s an invitation to be present in His presence.

Let Him tell you everything He knows about you, so that you can get a fresh revelation of who He is and who He can be for YOU. For this woman, He offered the gift of living water, that’s also available to us today. We—and, yes, I said we, because, yes, I get caught up, too. We can become so busy that our lack of presence makes us miss the gifts He offers.

What’s the gift? His presence is the gift. Being present in His presence is just like He said to the woman at the well; it’s as renewing as “a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“This is water you don’t have to draw from. You just receive it.”

Rest in this, child of God. His gifts are given freely. You don’t have to work for it. Just rest in it.

We often talk about us seeking God, but in this case, God is seeking the hearts who still want to know Jesus, encounter His gift of living water, and become such worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.

In the end, she came with an empty bucket and left full of living water to share. He revealed that her deepest thirst isn’t something that can be satisfied with a bucket.

He knew what her soul really needed.

She says, “Come, see a man.” Do you need an encounter, a fresh revelation of who Jesus is? When you’re present in His presence, His presence becomes a gift to all who encounter Him.

What’s the gift? The gift of eternal life.

Are you aware of who’s present with you? If you were aware, you would ask Him for a drink.

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A Prayer for Presence

Father God,

I want to pray for all who are thirsty, but are unaware of the gift You have to offer. Help us to be present in Your presence and be renewed by Your living water. Lord, we are all walking into a new season. Spring up life within us again. Bless us with a new encounter that revives us so that we may become a spring that overflows to others. Thank you for your gift of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.