Practicing Father's Presence

Taken from my kitchen window

When something has been on my mind for a couple of days and then Father drops a ! into my routine I can't help but be amazed at the love of God. Recently that something has been meditating on practicing the presence of God. A word for that reality just might be WORSHIP. A moment by moment attitude that allows God to wow you, or hug you, or just speak assurances of love and union into your heart, in that still, small voice.
All of the so-called disciplines of the Christian life can be accomplished in myriads of ways that are more about earning points, or enhancing my self image, or keeping up appearances or even trying my best to improve myself spiritually,... but without my truly knowing the continuing reality of the presence of Jesus Who is the Christian Life... I know first hand!! The majority of my years as a Christian were spent doing just that. Toward the end of those years I knew most of the facts of the 'exchanged life' that I know now, but it really does take that touch of God on the 'thigh' of your illusions of independence to pull it all into focus... of just how loved you are and how totally impossible the Christian life is to live. And then the offer... come to Me... I will give you rest... Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me...My load is easy... My burden is light... If you read that passage in context (Matt 11:25-30) I believe that the learning He is talking about is the same learning He experienced with the Father, that of practicing the Father's presence. It isn't a learning of information, but an existential learning that is the essence of living in Christ as Christ lives in you. The reality is that this offer was made as Jesus was in prayer... He invited His listeners into His prayer .. into His very praise and worship, where we could know The Rest... What a God.. What a Friend.. What a Father!