By Todd Barrier

David says to God, in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”  

God is in every area of our lives. Too often, however, we do not sense that God is there. 

This is not because God is absent. It is because we fail to take the sense of God’s presence into our daily lives.  

Can you imagine what it would be like to have such a constant communion with God that you knew He was just one thought away? Imagine the power it would give you in overcoming a bad habit, changing a bad attitude, dealing with an addiction, struggling with a problem or resisting temptation!  

The question is, how can we learn to live in this constant sense of God’s abiding presence? Let me suggest four ideas. 

First, give God the first thoughts of your day before you face that day.  

Give the entire day to Him. Let Him know you need Him throughout the day. C.S. Lewis wrote about how each morning when we wake, all our hopes and wishes for the day rush at us like wild animals. Our first task each morning should be to hold those thoughts back and let God in.  

The psalmist wrote in Psalm 5:3, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.”  

Second, give God all the times during the day when you are waiting.  

Have you seriously considered how much time we spend waiting on something or someone during the day? Send up a quick prayer.  

It does not have to be long. Think of your blessings or the beauty of the day that God has given. Focus on God. If you have time, read from the Bible on your phone.  

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”  

Third, give God the worried times of your day.  

Throughout the day we deal with problems, issues and relationships. Taking God into these moments can help you to be victorious.  

On many occasions I have walked into a hospital room or house knowing the person has just received the word “terminal.” In times like these, I send up short prayers asking for wisdom, guidance and the right words to say before I enter the room. Oh, what strength it brings to me.  

I have also done this very thing before meeting with a husband or wife who is struggling in their relationship.  

 Remember the words in Psalm 25:5, “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”  

Fourth, give God the final moments of your day. Let your day end the way it began: by talking to God.  

Go back over the day with God. Confess what you know could have been done better. Thank Him for the times you knew He was present.  

Someone says, “But I fall asleep when I do that!” Do not worry about it. If you fall asleep while talking to God, just say “amen” when you get up in the morning! What better place to fall asleep than in the presence of God?  

Here is one more psalm for you: “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). 

Let us all work on having a closer walk with God. Your day will be better for it!