A GUIDE TO Practicing God’s Presence
KENNETH BOA& JENNY ABELA GUIDE TOPracticingGod’s PresenceA Companion Guide toLife in thePresence of God
This electronic version ofA Guide to Practicing God’s Presencecontains samples of the exerciseswithin this guide.To access the full guide, subscribe atPresence.appGod's presence is my good . . .PSALM 73:8
A GUIDE TOPracticingGod’s PresenceA Companion Guide toLife in the Presence of GodKE N N E TH BOA&J E NNY ABE LTRINITY HOUSE PUBLISHERS INC.
TRINITY HOUSE PUBLISHERS INC.One Piedmont Center Suite 130Atlanta, Georgia 30305(800) DRAW NEAR (372-9632)Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from theNew American Standard Bible (NASB),Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman FoundationUsed by permission. www.Lockman.orgCover image: David-W- / photocase.comA Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceCopyright 2018 by Kenneth D. Boa and Jennifer M. Abel.All rights reserved.
“Draw near to Godand He will draw near to you.”James 4:8
ContentsINTRODUCTION . . . 1How to Use This Guide . . . 3Authors’ Invitation . 5Category Descriptions . 6THE 52-WEEK PLAN . . 9RESOURCES . . . 115Images of Living in His Presence . . 116Renewal Verses . 118Who Does God Say I Am? . 128Music for Practicing His Presence . . 135Morning Affirmations . . 137Personal Exercises Log. . . . 143EXERCISES BY CATEGORY . . . . . 149Index. 200Acknowledgements . 204About the Authors . 205More Resources . 206
IN TR ODU CTI O N
How to Use This Guide 3How to Use This GuideThis 52-week guide is not a devotional. But it is a guide to livingin God’s presence. It could lead you to the most important, mostfruitful, most enjoyable thing you do.Don’t let the excuse of time rob you. Though this guide containsexercises, it is designed to help you become more intentional inyour awareness of God, not more involved in activities for God.These exercises are more about your mindset as you engage youralready scheduled activities. Any “extra time” requirements aremodest, designed to layer into your life, but without the strain ofmultitasking. These exercises help cultivate the life of the mind sothat you will enjoy God in purposeful pursuit rather than becomea default spectator to whatever life throws your way.Use this guide to customize your own personal tool kit:1. At the end of each week, mark whether it worked for you:YesNoNeutral2. Record your results in the log starting on page 143. (Ifviewing as a PDF, click the squares to record your results,and then re-save the file.)3. By the time you finish this guide, you’ll know whichexercises you want to make part of your regular, enjoyable,and life-changing practicing of God’s presence.4. At the suggested pace of 2 exercises per week, you’ll beintroduced to 104 exercises across 8 different categories in
4 A Guide to Practicing God’s Presencea year, but you can alter this pace to your needs. Not everyexercise will appeal to you. Feel free to adapt or try adifferent exercise within the same category.This guide is a practical companion to Life in the Presence of God:Practices for Living in Light of Eternity (InterVarsity Press, 2017).However, even if you haven’t read the book, you can still use thisguide, which is for anyone, anywhere, no matter where you are inyour spiritual walk.
Authors' Invitation 5Authors’ InvitationThe spiritual life is not a measurable product but a dynamicprocess. Walking in God’s presence, or “practicing his presence,”requires both trusting and training. This guide offers a few waysto nurture your relationship with God and heighten yourawareness and enjoyment of his constant presence on a daily basis.These exercises aren’t magic pills you can swallow to beautomatically ushered into God’s presence. They’re not intendedas a checklist of to-do items that you complete mechanically.They’re more like the things you do when you want to deepenyour intimacy or friendship with a spouse or best friend—thingslike going on a dinner date, writing a personal letter, or taking awalk together.The exercises in this guide are to be done in combination with aheart of faith (Hebrews 11:6), trusting God to work in you andchange you through the power of his Spirit living in you. He isthe only one who can do that: no program, no book, no trainingguide in the world can do that but God himself.When you draw near to God, he promises to draw near to you( James 4:8). We pray this for you, not just as something thathappens occasionally, but throughout your days, every day, so thatall of your life, even the most ordinary parts, becomes extraordinarybecause it’s infused with his presence. And it is there, in hispresence, that you’ll find fullness of joy, no matter what is goingon in your life (Psalm 16:11).—Ken Boa and Jenny Abel
6 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceCategory DescriptionsEach exercise in this guide falls within one of eight categories:Lifestyle, Physical, Prayer, Relational, Scripture, Sensory, Time &Work, and Wisdom. Summary descriptions of each categoryappear below.LIFESTYLEEach day has a mini-life of its own—with a birth, followed bygrowth, decline, and death (with parallels in waking up, goingabout the day, dressing for bed, and sleeping). Viewing life thisway, rather than worrying about the future or dwelling in the past,helps us take up our cross daily, as Jesus said we’re to do. Lifestyleexercises provide the proper “bookends” to each day as well as helpus live each day with contentment, gratitude, and purpose.PHYSICALPhysical exercises acknowledge our human nature as bothimmaterial and material (or spirit and body, invisible and visible).These exercises leverage encounters with the tangible world tomake us aware of how this world points to a world beyond, of howthe physical can move us toward spiritual truth.PRAYERCommunication is what makes any relationship work, includingour relationship with God. This communication is a two-waystreet, involving both listening and speaking. Prayer is the vehicleby which we communicate with God and thus spend time with
Category Descriptions 7him. These exercises help to bring the spiritual into the ordinaryand elevate the ordinary to the spiritual.RELATIONALWe’re made in the image of God, and as image bearers, we arerelational—just like our Maker. We’re made for community andexperience the presence of God in and through his people. Theseexercises help us apply the Great Commandments to love Godand others in our everyday encounters, seeing others not as objectsto be manipulated but as subjects to be cared for and loved.SCRIPTUREScripture instructs us to renew our minds and set our minds onthings above. And Scripture is a vital means by which we do that.Through the lens of Scripture we see God, ourselves, and theworld clearly and correctly. These exercises encourage us toincorporate Scripture into daily life both to recalibrate our valuesand agenda to God’s and to know God through his revealed truth.SENSORYWhen we begin to see life as monotonous and routine, our sensescan become dulled. We fail to experience the transcendent andsupernatural when we neglect to engage our God-given sensesand enjoy him in the process. These exercises appeal to both heartand mind as we allow God to invade our senses.TIME & WORKScripture calls us to redeem the time. To do so, we must bring oureveryday work and endeavors into the presence of God, making
8 A Guide to Practicing God’s Presencemore of our daily requirements than simply earning a living orfulfilling our duties. These exercises help us become aware ofopportunities to invest the time we’ve been given and becomeconscious of God in our temporal tasks.WISDOMWisdom is skill in the art of living. Like the Lifestyle category,this involves aspects of day-to-day life, but here the focus is onliving with the end in mind, with a long-term perspective. Theseexercises help us to think God’s thoughts after him, living withan awareness of both our identities and destinies.
THE5 2 -W E E KP LAN
10 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceWEEK 1EXERCISE 1LIFESTYLE 1Four Areas of GratitudeGetting our eyes off ourselves and onto God is one way God canturn the difficulties of life into a redemptive tool. Cultivate asense of gratitude for the goodness of life and the tendermercies of God that you tend to overlook by thinking aboutsomething you’re grateful for in each of the four categoriesbelow. Thank God for each of these things daily.Record what you’re grateful for in the following categories:The glory of God’s creation:A material blessing:A relational blessing (someone in your life):A spiritual blessing:Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
The 52-Week Plan 11WEEK 1EXERCISE 2PHYSICAL 13 x 5 Cards—1 Thessalonians 5:16–18On a 3 x 5 index card (or small piece of paper) write this renewalverse* (feel free to use the Bible version you prefer):REJOICE ALWAYS;PRAY WITHOUT CEASING;IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS;FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOUIN CHRIST JESUS.(1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18)Find an ideal spot to display the card—wherever you’ll need itmost, or where you spend the most time (such as your car’sdashboard, at your computer/workstation, above the kitchen sink,or on the bathroom mirror).*After a while, it’s easy to start ignoring these cards. Therefore, we’ve repeatedthis exercise seven times in this guide to show the advantage of swapping outcards with new verses from time to time. If this becomes a part of your personaltool kit, we recommend changing the cards monthly or even weekly so they don’tlose their impact. For more verse options, see the collections of Renewal Versesstarting on page 118.Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
12 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceWEEK 2EXERCISE 1PRAYER 1Flash PrayersGet in the habit of recognizing God’s presence all day long bysending up short “flash prayers” (sometimes called “arrow prayers”)at various points in the day. These are brief acknowledgements ofGod’s presence that can be offered anytime, anywhere. Pick asituation when you’ll offer up a flash prayer, and then choose aprayer (or write your own).Situations:oo Upon wakingoo While sitting down for a meal/eatingoo Before making a phone call (at work or home)oo While sitting in traffic at a red lightoo While waiting in a lineoo When lying in bed about to fall asleepoo Other:Flash Prayer Examples:oo May I love and serve you and others today.oo I thank you in all things.oo I love you, Lord.oo By your grace, Lord . . .oo Where would I be without You, Lord?oo Unite my heart to fear Your name.oo Other:Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
The 52-Week Plan 13WEEK 2EXERCISE 2RELATIONAL 1Every EncounterKeeping an eternal perspective means seeing every person youmeet through the lens of God’s grace, realizing we never meetsomeone at random or by accident. God can magnify a small deedor word to large effect in another’s life. Seek to respond to God’sinitiatives in your everyday encounters.For each person you meet:llAssume God is working in that person somehow, andllAsk yourself, “Is there some way I can share the love orpresence of Christ with this person?”If practicing this with everyone you meet feels too overwhelming,try this exercise with a certain category of people, for example,family members, colleagues at work, those who serve you (e.g.,waiters/waitresses, cashiers, salespeople, or postal workers), oranyone you meet for the first time.Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
14 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceWEEK 3EXERCISE 1SCRIPTURE 1Images of Living in His PresenceLook through the 13 images below that describe the ongoingprocess of life in God’s presence. Read the descriptions startingon page 116 for more detail. Then choose one you resonate withthe most. Read the associated passage, write it out on an indexcard or piece of paper, and keep it by your bed. Read it everymorning and evening. Meditate on the phrases that stand out, andask God to help you live out or obey it.oo ABIDE in Jesus. ( John 15:4–5)oo LOVE God and your neighbor. (Matthew 22:37–40)oo SET YOUR MIND on what the Spirit desires. (Romans8:5–6)oo WALK by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16, 25)oo SET YOUR HEART on things above. (Colossians 3:1–2)oo REJOICE ALWAYS . (1 Thessalonians 5:16)oo PRAY CONTINUALLY . (1 Thessalonians 5:17)oo GIVE THANKS in all circumstances. (1 Thessalonians5:18)oo RUN WITH ENDURANCE/PERSEVERANCE . (Hebrews12:1–2)oo SUBMIT yourself to God. (Romans 12:1–2)oo PRESS ON toward the goal. (Philippians 3:12–14)oo DWELL ON whatever is excellent and praiseworthy.(Philippians 4:6–8)oo REMEMBER God. (Deuteronomy 8:2–3)Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
The 52-Week Plan 15WEEK 3EXERCISE 2SENSORY 1Cultivate a Seeing Eye“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim thework of his hands,” says Psalm 19:1 (NIV ). Wonders in thephysical world point beyond themselves to the presence and mindof our awesome Creator. While driving, walking, or even justobserving from your window or porch, take a few minutes eachday to notice at least one aspect of the creation: flowers, leaves,trees (or plants in general), clouds, the colors of the sky, birds, oranimals. Reflect on how their beauty and order point to theCreator. Don’t just physically see these things, but savor them—revel in them—and rejoice with God, thanking him for hisamazing artistry.If you adopt this habit, you’ll be able to recognize different aspectsof God’s glory throughout the seasons. Consider, for example, thecycles of trees, displaying not only the beauty of their foliagethrough various changes but also the wonder of the brancharchitecture visible in winter.Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
16 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceWEEK 4EXERCISE 1TIME & WORK 1Chronos vs. KairosThere are two Greek words for “time.” Chronos refers tochronological, everyday events (“clock time”), while kairos refersto special opportunities and occurrences (as Paul talks about inEphesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5, where the concept of makingthe most of every “opportunity” is translated “redeeming the time”in the New King James Version).Be aware of this distinction, and heed Jesus’ example by beingavailable—no matter how busy you are—to make the most of thekairos moments (opportunities) God providentially gives youduring the course of each day. Realize the most significant thingyou do in any given day may not be on your calendar.Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
The 52-Week Plan 17WEEK 4EXERCISE 2WISDOM 1Monitor Your Thought LifePhilippians 4:8 says,Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,whatever is of good repute—if there is any excellenceand if anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.Use this verse to help you monitor your thought patterns, payingspecial attention to:llMoments when your mind tends to shift into “neutral”(e.g., when waiting at traffic lights or standing in line)llWhen you may be tempted to complainAsk God to use the words of Philippians 4:8 to draw your thoughtsupward—to help you set your mind on him and the things thatbring him delight. You might want to write out the verse on a 3 x 5card and place it somewhere visible where you’ll see it often ormost need it. (Better yet, memorize it!)Did this exercise work for you?YesNoRecord your answer in the log starting on page 143.Neutral
R E S OU R CE S
116 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceImages of Living in His PresenceMORE DETAIL FOR SCRIPTURE 1 EXERCISEABIDE IN JESUSand you will bear fruit; without him, you can do nothing(John 15:4–5)LOVE GODwith all your heart, soul, and mind;and love your neighbor as yourself(Matthew 22:37–40)SET YOUR MINDon what the Spirit desires, not what the flesh desires(Romans 8:5–6)WALK BY THE SPIRITand keep in step with him(Galatians 5:16, 25)SET YOUR HEARTon things above, making Christ first in your heart(Colossians 3:1–2)REJOICE ALWAYS(1 Thessalonians 5:16)
Images of Living in His Presence 117PRAY CONTINUALLY(1 Thessalonians 5:17)GIVE THANKSin all circumstances(1 Thessalonians 5:18)RUN WITH ENDURANCE/PERSEVERANCEthe race marked out for you, fixing your eyes on Jesus(Hebrews 12:1–2)SUBMIT TO GOD, OFFERING YOURSELFas a living sacrifice to him, not conforming to this world’spattern but being transformed by the renewing of your mind(Romans 12:1–2)PRESS ONtoward the goal to win the prize ofthe upward call of God in Christ Jesus(Philippians 3:12–14)DWELL ONthe true, the noble, the right, the pure, the lovely,the admirable—anything that is excellent and praiseworthy(Philippians 4:6–8)REMEMBERthat we don’t live on bread alonebut on the food of God’s word(Deuteronomy 8:2–3)
118 A Guide to Practicing God’s PresenceRenewal VersesCOLLECTION 1“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and withall your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great andforemost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love yourneighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments depend thewhole Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37–40)This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as Ihave loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one laydown his life for his friends. ( John 15:12–13)If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. ( John 14:15)He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one wholoves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, andI will love him and will disclose Myself to him. ( John 14:21)If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father willlove him, and We will come to him and make Our abode withhim. ( John 14:23)Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not bragand is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seekits own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrongsuffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with thetruth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, enduresall things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8a)
Renewal Verses 119Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer andsupplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made knownto God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whateveris right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of goodrepute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise,dwell on these things. The things you have learned and receivedand heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God ofpeace will be with you. (Philippians 4:6–9)Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks;for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians5:16–18)For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn yourfreedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through
Walking in God’s presence, or “practicing his presence,” requires both trusting and training. This guide offers a few ways to nurture your relationship with God and heighten your awareness and enjoyment of his constant presence on a daily basis. These exercises aren’t magic pills you can swallow to be automatically ushered into God’s presence. They’re not intended as a checklist of .
Come let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Give God the honor. Give God the praise. Come let us worship the Lord; Let's give God the praise. Worship God. Worship God. Give my God the glory. Give my God the praise. Worship God. Worship God. Come let us worship the Lord; Let's give God
Reviewing sight words and phonograms daily Practicing letter formation and penmanship Practicing math facts daily (even in the higher grades) Practicing and mastering organizational strategies Practicing and mastering emotional regulation strategies Being able to teach at the remedial level when necessary is one of the huge
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God Made My World. God created every-thing in the world. He even created the world itself. God made the trees and flowers. God made the clouds in the sky. God made the oceans and the lakes. God made the stars that twinkle at night. There is not one thing anywhere that God didn’t create. Everything I see is made from things God cre-ated.
obey God because we are afraid of punishment by God —this is living under the law of God and not the love of God. It is not burdensome to obey God when we know God loves us and we love God and love to obey God because we truly love God and want to bring G
the sessions in this study will focus on six major attributes of God: God s holiness, God s love, God s justice, God s forgiveness, God s wisdom, and God s faithfulness. As we begin to understand what God is like and how He works in our lives, we will not only know God more, but we
May 24, 2020 · Our God is greater A2 Our God is stronger Esus B God, You are higher than any other C#m Our God is Healer A2 Awesome in power Esus B Our God, Our God BRIDGE: C#m And if our God is for us A2 Then who could ever stop us Esus And if our God is
there will be several sections to the written test in addition to reading comprehension; thus, it is to your benefit to carefully read the job bulletin to determine the knowledge, skill, and ability areas the written test will cover. In addition, it is important that you read the entire written test notice for the location and time of the written test as well as for parking instructions and .
