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Lead me to the heart of the present that I may be a sharer of your eternal presence. — John Philip Newell
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Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve spent time in a simple, three-word prayer that leads us “to the heart of the present.” And what do we discover there? The Eternal Presence.
The great I AM is here (“I Am Here”) . . . in this very moment.
This final dimension of our three-word prayer is a surrender of reality. No matter how dark, hopeless, or sinister this moment may appear, I AM is with us. Whether we’re scaling the highest mountain or falling into the lowest valley, The Eternal Presence is our protector, peace, and promise.
Paul once wrote, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything.” For Paul, who just happened to be in prison when he wrote these words, the most reasonable thing we can do is reject anxiety and hold fast to the Truth that God is always here.
Of course, we often prefer God’s nearness to be more tangible, especially in the face of trial. Yet within God’s redemptive design, we are made strong through weakness, perfect through imperfection, whole through brokenness, rooted through storms.For that reason, we mustn’t believe the lie that prayer is just a way to escape from this moment; God intends for prayer to deliver you through this moment and into a fresh revelation of His nearness.
Response
When it comes to well-being, there’s so much talk about self-awareness, but true self-awareness only forms through God-awareness. Embracing the Truth that the Lord is at hand (God-awareness) transforms prayer into a way of life, especially in those moments when, like Paul, we are in the chains of trial.
Closing Thoughts
Whatever this week may bring, remember that the Lord is at hand. The great I AM is indeed here. He always has been and always will be.
Praying with you,
Addison
P.S. If you know someone who needs to read Words with God: Trading Boring, Empty Prayer for Real Connection, you can get them a copy via Messenger’s Store or Amazon. (The ebook and audiobook are only available through Amazon, though.)
