Day 46: How prayer brings us into the presence of God

At times we may feel as though God is so far away. We feel as though our prayers only reach the ceiling but to do go beyond. We feel as though we hardly even know God. We have lost that sense of nearness with God. So how do we get it back???

Firstly we must examine our lives to see if we can find the cause of this lack of nearness with God. There must be something that is making you feel this way. There are two main reasons: that you have a continual sin that is acting as a barrier between you and God, or, you neglect God is prayer. Most often it is the second reason. 

But then, what does it really mean to neglect God in prayer? Aren't you praying to Him; then obviously you are giving Him some attention, aren't you? 

Consider for a moment the relationships you have with other people. If we don't particularly like a person we tend to put a psychological distance between ourselves and that person. We prefer to remain uninterested in their life and keep our conversations with them to a superficial level. On the other hand, however, if the person is someone we like very much, someone dear to us, we put our hearts into our conversations, and we desire more and more to be with that person. We not only share the same space with each other, but we share our lives also. 

So how is it to be with our conversations (our prayers) with God? If we ignore Him in our prayers; if He is merely the addressee, then how can we expect Him to bless us with an awareness of His special presence. James puts this matter suscinctly: Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8a) If we want to experience the nearness of God, we have to come near to Him. We must seek after Him as we pray. 

And how do we do this? 

We must devote our hearts to communing with Him; it must be our desire to be with Him in prayer, to share our lives with Him in a personal way. In the previous chapters it was mentioned how we can get closer to God in prayer: by having a fascination with His character and works, and coming to Him with a servant's gaze. But we can also get near to God by contemplating on His holy dwelling. This does not require us to conjure a picture of what we image heaven to be like, but to meditate on the splendour and glory of our Father's dwelling place. 

In the bible we often find a focus on God's almighty dwelling. 

As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of His head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

Heaven here is pictured as a magnificent royal court filled with unimaginable power and glory. If we contemplate on the fact that the one we pray to, Our Father, who is in heaven (Matt 6:9), and the fact that He dwells in such an unimaginable place of glory, then our hearts are also there with our Father in heaven. The our hearts are with Him; they are near Him; and he will feel near. 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Col 3:1). Seek God in His holy dwelling; seek and you will find.