Presence Before Provision.
This year, my husband and I are focusing on these three words: presence before provision. We no longer desire to be so caught up in what God can give and do for us rather than resting and being content with His presence. While God's provision is always abundant and right on time, it's so easy for us to fall into a pattern of only coming to God when we need something. Now, don't get me wrong…God absolutely desires His children to come to Him with their needs. But when we only come to Him with desires, we miss such a sacred part of Jesus, the wonder of His presence. It aches my heart to think about how many opportunities to experience His presence I have missed because I was too busy rushing my day along or because I was too caught up in myself.
What would our lives look like if we spent more time seeking out God's presence before His provision?
In my heart, I really believe that if we were to make it a priority to seek out God's presence every day, we wouldn't have as much of a problem with anxiety, depression, doubt, and our faith. I speak from a place of experience with all of those trials and can say that whenever I invite His presence into whatever might be going on, peace falls over me.
His peace. Don't you yearn for it—the serenity and relaxed spirit that reminds your anxiety and fear that peace for His child is a promise that Christ will keep? It goes beyond understanding yet never fails in His presence.
All we have to do is rest in His presence.
Don't know or understand how to rest in or seek His presence? First, I would urge you to pray and ask God to make you sensitive and open to His guidance. Also, here are some practical ways I go about seeking His presence:
Before I read the Bible, I pray and invite the Holy Spirit into my mind and thoughts.
I carve out time during the week to sit at my piano and just follow the rhythms of where my fingers and voice take me, lifting up transparent lyrics of worship. Alternatively, I also enjoy putting on worship music and journaling about all that He has done in the past.
Sit/lay still in your bed before getting up in the morning and rest in Him holding you.
Take moments throughout the day to think on all that God has done for you already that day.
Go on a hike or drive and spend time just talking and having community with God.
Stay off social media for a couple of days. This will do wonders, friends!
Memorize a couple verses and quote them to yourself throughout the day.
words by Joy Payne and photo by Cate Willis