I am very excited that a few weeks ago, a whole host of folks signed up to "practice the presence of God" for a hundred days.  That's right up until Christmas Eve.  Now, if you haven't been able to be with us in body, you can still join us in spirit.  It is making a refreshing difference in our lives.

What exactly is "practicing the presence of God?"  Well, it is an attempt to fulfill Paul's exhortation to "pray constantly" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  It is in the spirit of David who declared, "my eyes are ever toward the Lord" (Psalm 25:15).  It is aiming to "do everything for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31) and "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17).  It is the conscious decision to "run the race set before us by looking to Jesus" (Hebrews 12:1f.).  You get the picture.

Can we learn to do this?  Absolutely, it's fairly easy to understand and just requires practice.  We all know that Jesus is with us - because he promised never to leave us, nor forsake us (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5).  In fact, if we have accepted him personally as Savior and Lord, he lives within us (John 14:18-23).  So naturally, we can talk to him at any moment, and we can listen for his voice at any time.

Our problem is that we get so easily distracted by all othe busyness in our lives.  In our minds, we experience a stady flow of words, ideas, facts, possibilities and concerns.  This prayer technique does not try to stop that flow; it merely brings the Lord into the equation.  You might say, we invite Jesus to be part of the conversation that is constantly going on in our heads and hearts.

How then?  One way is to choose a word or phrase that brings Jesus into our consciousness.  The classic version of the "Jesus Prayer" is: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner."  Variatians abound.  Frankly, the simple name of "Jesus" works best for me.  I suggest that the moment we awake in the morning, we acknowledge that is Jesus is with us.  Say his name.  Maybe add, "This is the day that you have made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)  And throughout the day, as often as possible, quietly utter or recollect Jesus' name.  Whenever we call upon his name, He is with us and attending to us.  Gradually, as we  shower and dress, as we drive to work or school, as we wait in line at the cafeteria or the water cooler, we find opportunities to recollect his presence.  The more we practice this, the easier it becomes.  Before you know if, you are praying throughout the day about nearly everything that matters - your family and friends, your pressing deadlines and important appointments, a friend who's ill or hurting.  You will be amazed at how practicing the presence of God will shape your day.  You'll be more sensitive to those around you, have more peace of mind and patience, and be more likely to go the extra mile at home!

The more we practice God's presence, the more awake we become spiritually, and the more we want to fulfill God's will in our lives.  This is totally a win-win situation.  I know this effort will bless our whole congregational life.  If you are willing, I'd love to hear about your experiences in the weeks to come!

Learn more about St. John's Church on Morgan Hill online: www.stjohnsmorganhill.org