Prayer Presence

Photo by Jude Beck (2018) via Unsplash, CC0 Public Domain[/caption] Not long ago, I became aware that my prayers had a striving, pleading energy about them: “Lord, pleeeeaaase help me with this or that,” and “Jesus, I need to surrender this to you, but it’s so hard!” The body language that went along with these prayers was furrowed eyebrows, tight jaw, hands squeezed in fists, accompanied by tension in my neck, back, and shoulders. Can you feel that “striving” energy? That sense of fervently wanting? Pleading for my intentions to be heard? Then one day, I exhaled. I opened those fists and let my palms look up towards the heavens. Relaxed my shoulders and let my chest too, look up to the heavens. Another deep breath in and long exhale out. Ahhhh! Chin lifted, eyes open wide to the Lord. Jesus, thank you for teaching me the posture of grace and ease! Jesus, thank You that You ARE Grace and Ease! And there I sat, allowing His Presence to envelop me with its everlasting brightness and beauty. I noticed that as I placed myself in His Presence, my presence shifted dramatically! No more striving, wanting, or pleading. Only peace. Love. Awe and gratitude. The shift in my physical presence facilitated a very necessary mind shift, which resulted in taking my eyes off of myself and fixing my gaze squarely upon Him. As I am fully present to His Presence, my whole being, filled with a sense of grace and ease, rejoices!

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The act of rejoicing and giving thanks awakens my faith and through the doorway of my faith, He enters in. My prayer stance is different, new, free; the striving and wanting have given way to trust and surrender.

Practical Application

My prayers for relief and healing from anxiety, depression or other forms of emotional unrest become: Thank you Jesus, that Your healing light is flowing through my entire being. Thank you for Your Life in my mind, directing and arranging my thoughts so all is in accordance with Your holy will. Thank you for removing from within me anything – any thought or belief – that is not of You. I praise You, Jesus! My prayers for the children in my life who are struggling with various challenges become: Jesus, thank You for Your immense and everlasting love for my children and for ___________. Thank You that You hold him/her in the palm of your hand – today and every day. Thank you for covering him/her with Your powerful protection and unfailing help. Lord, I rejoice that all is in Your hands! Thank you, Jesus! And so on … placing our every burden and worry at His feet with joyful thanksgiving and expectant faith. With deep breaths, open hands, hearts and minds. Desiring only His perfect will be done.