Seeking God’s Presence | May 23rd, 2019
If I was to describe myself, one of the first words that pops into my mind is minimalist. When it comes to my home, I do not like clutter, too many nicknacks, or anything lying around out of place that is not being used. I do like lots of space, cleanliness, and a few things I value around me that may not function for any other reason than to bring a smile to my face when I see them.
Even as a minimalist, my space can begin to feel cluttered if I don’t keep up with putting things back where they belong or stay on top of being organized with all the little things that tend to pile up.
I have noticed I can get easily distracted and am not able to focus very well with clutter. So, I have made it a habit to try to make order of any “chaos” around me by putting everything back in its proper place before I begin anything that requires deep concentration. I know that to have order is to have peace for my mind and spirit.
A New Trend for Jewelry
As a jewelry designer, I was thrilled to discover one of the recent trends. There is a name for it. It’s called “minimalist jewelry” or “barely
Most of the jewelry I design is what I would consider “statement pieces” which are big and bold with lots of
The first minimalist piece with which I decided to experiment was a pavé diamond crescent moon and dangling star pendant. I added a dainty gold vermeil chain to create a necklace making its own kind of statement without being overpowering.
Centered on Order
As I examined my sparkly moon and star pendant, I began thinking about how much the universe is associated with what I crave…order. God’s divine plan was centered on order when He created it.
For example, the distance of the moon from the earth is 240,000 miles. If it were only 50,000 miles, the gravitational pull from the moon would be so strong that the ocean tides would fully submerge the earth’s surface twice every day!
There was no room for chaos of any kind for the universe to be able to function in the exact and precise way it did then and still does today – in perfect order.
Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time. He discovered the theory of gravity. As he worked hard to uncover the laws about the “order” of the universe, he began to see God as the masterful Creator whose existence could not be denied with the splendor of creation and its precision that followed an orderly pattern and plan.
“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent Being. This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called “Lord God” or “Universal Ruler.” The Supreme God is a Being eternal, infinite, [and] absolutely perfect.” – Sir Isaac Newton
Newton’s belief lines up beautifully with what Scripture tell us about creation and order:
Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for
Seek God’s Presence Continually
When it comes to our lives, we all want order. We want peace. No one desires to live in constant chaos. We want to know that we are on the right path headed in the direction that will provide the least amount of chaos for us.
God gives us plenty of freedom when it comes to making choices – from which job to take, what part of the world to live in, who to marry, and on it goes.
There can be good that comes from several of those choices set before us. But the best way to determine God’s best and to keep from making destructive decisions that lead to chaos is to have a relationship with Him. A relationship where you seek God continually and with all your heart.
What does it mean to seek God?
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11
To seek God means to seek His presence. Presence is the Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for “face.” A person’s face reveals so much about their character. Emotions and feelings are expressed on a person’s face. You recognize someone by seeing their face. It represents who they are.
When you seek God’s face, you are desiring to know His character and be in His presence more than anything else. Your mind and heart are fully focused on Him. The more you seek to be in His presence, the more your character and desires will begin to align with His. You will know Him intimately, understand how much He loves you, and have enough faith to fully trust Him.
There will be no reason to ever worry or be filled with anxiety about making the right choices. When you are seeking His presence, He is continually guiding you on the path that gives your life a beautiful sense of order.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
So how do we seek God’s presence? His presence is found in who He is…as our Creator and as our Companion.
God is Our Creator
God’s glory is all around us. We can look up into the expansive heavens or take in the colorful flowers, unusual wildlife, towering trees, majestic mountains, or the powerful ocean to see His glory. We can seek Him as the Master Creator and praise Him for the magnificent way He displays His glory in His creation.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1
My husband and I took a trip to Lake Tahoe several years ago and everywhere my eye traveled, I was in awe! The glory of God was so evident in the beauty of nature surrounding me. When I look back at this photo taken there, I feel so insignificant. I am this tiny dot surrounded by the majesty of God’s creation!
Reading Psalm 139, however, gives me the assurance that I am actually quite significant in God’s eyes. He spent time creating me – knitting me together in my mother’s womb. I am a complex masterpiece!
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14
There is an order to my make-up as all of the parts of my body must work together, each with their own God-given job, yet dependent on the other parts so they can function properly and precisely.
To have life, there must be specific chemistry. God created the laws of chemistry with perfection and order so that life would be possible. God’s glory is displayed in us just as it is in nature when we use the unique abilities God has given each one of us. When we are seeking His presence, He will continually show us, time after time, exactly how we can use our abilities for His glory. He will provide those perfect opportunities for us.
God is Our Companion
God has given us His Word to reveal who He is. We are seeking His presence when we spend time reading it. Throughout His Word, we discover how much He loves us. We learn about His attributes that make up His character such as being a personal God who deeply desires a relationship with us to be our faithful Companion.
We also learn about His laws which lead us to the path of life – the path that is filled with joy, godly pleasures, order, and peace!
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
If you have difficulty making it a priority to spend time with God, ask Him to give you an insatiable desire for reading His Word so you can get to know Him deeply. Relationships take time and commitment!
Memorize verses that speak to you as you read so they will easily come to mind whenever you need them, helping you seek the presence of God in different situations you
I like to read my Bible in the morning during breakfast. I find it so amazing that certain passages will stick with me and encourage me all throughout the day. And verses I have memorized from early childhood into my adult years seem to come back to my mind at just the right time when I need to feel His presence most.
At times, you may find it difficult to sense God’s presence with all the “noise” going on around you – the constant busyness of life. It can easily drown out His voice as He is trying to speak to your heart.
Sadly, we are often too busy and too self-absorbed to truly seek Him
That is why He tells us to seek His presence continually. Only then can we experience peace which is the absence of chaos. It is a daily, conscious choice to include Him as our Companion in our thoughts and activities throughout the day. And it is also a conscious choice to steer clear of those things that dull us spiritually which can keep us from desiring to seek Him.
Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Psalm 119:133
God is a God of order. Just as He has specific laws of precision and order for the moon and stars to stay on their celestial path, how much more does He desire to provide precision that follows an orderly pattern and plan for His children whom He created and deeply loves. All that is required of us is to seek His presence and He will graciously make known to us the path of life.
Spiritual Sparklers
Sparkler #1: Prayer
If you find that you are not taking time for God by reading His Word or including Him in your thoughts and activities, ask Him to give you an insatiable desire for Him and His Word.
Sparkler #2: Action
Take some quiet time in nature to see God’s glory around you. Give Him praise and seek Him as your Creator who loves you and made you with precision and perfect order so you could have life.
Sparkler #3: Challenge
Make a conscious effort to stay away from things in your life that seem to dull you spiritually so you can continually seek His presence in all you do.
Kimberly Moore is a blogger, speaker, and author of Beauty in a Life Repurposed and Kingdom Sparkle. To learn more, visit her website at kingdomsparkle.com.
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