The Presence of God

The presence of God in our lives embraces us. God’s presence is a dynamic power and should be overwhelming. Intimacy with God yields unimaginable joy. So beautiful. So sweet. Is it easy to be distracted from God? An outrageous concept but sadly it does happen. God does not force His presence on us. Might God be a distraction from our empty desires? So much the better. Or is being distracted by God a measure of how much we love Him? How much do we want to do God’s will and be pleasing to God? How great a desire do we have for God compared to our desire for things? Determine the greater distraction. Prayerfully ask yourself, is God my distraction? My breathe? My life? My existence?

The pull towards God ought to indeed be overpowering as we see and feel God in the beauty of nature that surrounds us; in the faces of babies and children; the beauty of older people who are nearer to heavenly eternity; in the charity we feel towards one another. The pull towards God ought to be overwhelming as we pause daily to read Holy Scripture, to read and study the lives and writings of the Saints and the prayers written by the Saints passed on to us, and most special and moving is listening to the Word being proclaimed during the Holy Liturgy of the Mass.

See God as a magnet, our heart to the Sacred Heart connected with a force that cannot be pulled apart. Nothing can separate us from Our God. The truth, the reality of God’s presence in our life can affect us physically; a burning heart or a slight stab in the heart. We find ourselves making small audible sounds during silent prayer, sighs, slight moans, almost inaudible sounds affirmations when remembering God’s merciful love. This is good. At other times we might gasp or inhale suddenly amazed that God is so close. So real. If we feel like singing or dancing God will accept this form of worship if we respectfully consider the situations and appropriateness of this form of worship or we may wish to lay prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament. At other times we shake our head. Tears well up in our eyes as we kneel in prayer. It’s no surprise if we find ourselves smiling broadly, always smiling even through our tears as our heart burst with love of God. And if we are especially blessed with God’s grace we may experience a wave of divine love wash over us. It cannot be predicted when or where this will happen but when it happens there’s no doubt God is the cause. This rapture may last only seconds though this awareness of God’s presence may seem to last longer. When God comes to us in this manner all we can do is pause, close our eyes and bask in His goodness as we are held captive by the Holy Spirit. We might form a prayer in our mind or even a series of desperate prayers in an attempt to keep Him close but more likely the mind will be silent as we experience tremendous joy. The joyful soul will be grateful for this grace, this awareness of being bathe in the glory of God. And when the moment has past we will be left in an ocean of peace and calm.

Why God chooses to favor us this way is unknown but it’s best to remain humbly not to ask “why me Lord?” This “why me Lord,” may come to you again in a less glorious time. It’s best to accept these favorable happenings from God along with the happenings that may not be so happy or favorable. No matter good times or bad, always remember to thank God for the gift of his presence.

“Dear God, Help me to forget any wants, needs or desires I have that have little to do with you. Be the greatest distraction in my life that I may love you completely and do your will. Let everything I do be for your greater glory.”