Abiding Presence

Recently I’ve been struggling with feeling near to the Lord. I read my Bible and do my devotions every morning before I start my day, and every night before I close my eyes, something I’ve always wanted the “time” to do back in the States but allowed the world to distract me. Yet I don’t feel any nearer to Jesus on a regular basis. How do I attain the “abiding presence” of the Holy Spirit that Paul talks about? Andrew Murray (no, not the muscle man who ironically lives next to the Y) was a great theologian in the 1850’s and shared his insight on obtaining the Secret of the Abiding Presence. As I read through the daily devotionals I was captivated at how simple it was. Faith. It takes faith to experience the presence of Jesus in our lives daily and to understand the fullness of His promise, “I am with you always.” Faith that doesn’t back down when things get rocky. Faith that chooses to trust in every promise God has made, believing that He can and WILL fulfill each one.

John 14:23 says,

He who loves me will follow my commandments, and my Father will love him, and We will come and make Our home in him.

In other words… “We” (the trinity, through the Holy Spirit) will come into our hearts and abide in us. We will then experience the daily presence of Jesus and His exceedingly abundant power.

I’ve read the same thing in Scripture for the past three weeks, and then again I’ve heard the same verses be mentioned in Church on Sunday. Over and over again God has been drilling deep into my heart these two simple commandments, “Love God and love one another.”

I’ve been loving God through my actions and words right? I mean yea, I have screwed up here and there but otherwise I’m ok right? And I’ve been loving the people around me, maybe with a little irritation as the same question is asked over 100 times, but I’m only human. So why, when I ask God to help me, to push me, to dig deep into my heart and make my number one desire all about Him, do I get silence? How is it that when I’m driving home from work in the States I feel more at peace with Christ and I find more assurance in my Salvation then I am experiencing right now?

I can only experience the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit if I surrender myself to Him every day. I have to intentionally and wholeheartedly turn away from the world, and wait on God to reveal Himself to my soul. I must give Him all my time, energy, and heart, only then will He reveal Himself to me fully.

I know this is getting long, so I’ll stop here, but towards the end of Murray’s book he writes about having childlike faith, and to seek above all else to please God. By resting in the promise of John 14:23, that the Holy Spirit resides in me, that the Father loves me, and that by keeping His commands I am proving my love for Him, a quiet assurance, even if there is not much sense or feeling of His presence, will overtake me. Because He promises to be with me always. Even in the stillness. “Draw near to the Lord, and He will draw near to you.”