Presence

There are times when I wish I could go back to many moments in the past and notice what was happening in my presence. I was meeting people of significance. They were speaking and there was great wisdom and insight coming from them. I didn’t realize the depth of the conversation until much later. I have been in the presence of great people many times and I didn’t know it at the time. I think it’s super valuable to take a breath in multiple moments throughout any day and notice the greatness in other human beings. I know that it’s sobering to think that we might not have them with us, or we might not always get to be with them. I can think of friendships of my past and then we were separated by many miles. I need to be present and recognize the presence of other people with me.

Jesus encountered a question about fasting and He answered the question with Presence. Check this out….

¹⁸ Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?”

¹⁹ Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can’t fast while the groom is with them. ²⁰ But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. (Mark 2:18-19 NLT)

Jesus didn’t ignore fasting. Fasting is a practice of focus. I understand fasting to mean cutting something out of my regular routine so that I can focus and seek great clarity on something important and significant.  Fasting was never meant to be a show like many of the religious leaders made it. It was meant to be secret and deeply personal to create “bandwidth” for great focus and intense seeking the Lord. I think fasting welcomes the Presence of God. When I take time to carve out more time for Him by giving up something, He shows up. His Presence is attractive and magnetic. His Presence brings perspective. His Presence brings hope. His Presence bring healing. I pray for His Presence in me, and I pray that I walk in His Presence each day.

Pressing On!

Dwayne