In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Summary: Thinking about how we approach God leads to some interesting thoughts about who and what God is and how we relate to him.
How do people “approach” God? Have you ever wondered? It is an interesting question! How does one “approach” an invisible God?
With other gods, gods made of metal or stone, there is something to approach. We can come “before” it or “beside” it. We can stand before it or grovel. There is something there to see and focus on.
When we talk about God with a capital “G,” we talk about THE Creator of all things. We are also talking about a spiritual being who is invisible to the physical eye. Some of us can see with our spiritual eyes, but most, I think, need corrective lenses. We do not see clearly, if at all.
When I was young, I associated God with the church building we attended. In my child’s mind, coming to church was like coming to visit God. As I matured and learned more about God, I learned that he is all-seeing and all-knowing. Like Jonah, we can try to escape God, but we cannot succeed.
So how do we approach God if he is already right here? The answer, I believe, has to do with our hearts and our spirit.
When we are born in the flesh, we are also born with a spirit. Our spirit, at birth, is considered “dead” because Adam and Eve rejected God’s warnings about the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16-17, 3: 1-7). When Jesus met with Nicodemus, he explained that we have to be “born again” (John 3:3). Nicodemus was confused. What was Jesus talking about?
The best answer I’ve found is in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). At the end of the story, Jesus explains that when the prodigal turned his back on his father, he was “dead.” When he returned with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), he became “alive.”
The story of the prodigal is a story about flesh and blood people, but the drama in the story is all about the relationship between the father and his sons. It’s the invisible quality of the heart that makes the relationship work or not work. Another way of saying this has to do with the attitude of our spirit. (Heart and spirit appear to be used interchangeably in the scriptures. — e.g. see Hebrews 4:12)
There is a big difference between being observed by God from a distance and visiting God personally. When we approach God, we come before him spiritually. I suppose a prayer can be thought of as a message sent to God, but it can also be visualized as a visit with God personally. When we come before our God, we do it “in him,” meaning in Jesus. When we come before God, we come “through faith.” As believers, we know our shortcomings, and we come with a broken and contrite heart. All of this happens in the invisible realm of the spirit. But don’t imagine that it is not a real visit. When the body passes away, we will discover the spiritual realm was more real all along.
Application: Practice your approach to God. Does it feel free and confident?
Food for Thought: How does where we are physically or the position of our physical body impact our sense of being in God’s presence?
Let’s us approach Him today with Thanks!
Amen, Jim!
We have much to be thankful for, even in tumultuous times.
I am not sure I completely understand the question, but I know that the Father is Spirit, and we must worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4: 23 – 24). In that passage, the Samaritan woman asked Jesus where one should worship from a physical location standpoint (John 5: 19 – 24). Jesus’ answer indicated that wherever you were, if you were at a mountain or in Jerusalem at the temple, you were to worship Him in the Spirit and in truth. That is the kind of worship the Father desires. Our worship must engage the whole heart of a person – all of who we are in our desires, passions, intellect , will, etc.(Deuteronomy 6: 5; Mathew 22: 37).
Well said, Rich.
I think the question is fishing for a connection between body and spirit. Does one affect the other?
Sometimes the distractions of our flesh can make it difficult to focus on the spirit.
How to approach God…….Hmmmm.
I don’t see it as approaching so much as surrendering. Being present with a greatful heart. Not easy, especially with all the distractions this day and age. To me, Jesus made it quite clear in Luke 17:20,21; And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Being Greatful is the closest to love one can experience. The Holy spirit and his truth is given in abundance. My difficulty is getting out of my head with all that is going on, and just being present and open to the holy spirit.
Brad
Brad —
Welcome! Thanks for joining in! 🙂
Great comment, too. “Surrender” is an awesome way to summarize what it means to be in the presence of God.
How does where we are physically or the position of our physical body impact our sense of being in God’s presence?
I believe that God is closer to the humble who come to Him with a broken and contrite heart. My biggest concerns that I came to Him on my knees were taken care of. I know that I sometimes worry about what others think instead of being on my knees in the back of the church I should pray on my knees whenever and wherever. I do pray with respect when I do. But I’m still learning more and more how great He really is.
Great thoughts T. Staying humble before the Lord is so important.
Thanks Tim!
When I think of the Spirit I often think of John 3:8 —
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
He can challenge each of us in unique ways.
05-26-2023, How does where we are physically or the position of our physical body impact our sense of being in God’s presence?
Scripture indicates to me, where we are physically or the position or our physical body, can have a great effect on our sense of God’s presence in our lives.
Is His presence more intense in the middle of a filled to capacity football stadium where our favorite team is dominating the field, or in an empty quiet place we dedicate to prayer and Bible studies.
It is important to know that our Heavenly Father rewards those who seek Him in faith: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” Hebrews 11:6
In Luke 5:16, Jesus teaches prayer by example,
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
In Matthew 6:6, teaches prayer in words,
But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
In Scripture there are multiple examples for utilizing our bodies and our voices in prayer.
1. Bowing Your Head or Body, Genesis 24:26-27; Exodus 34:8-9
2. Kneel, Luke 22:39-44; Matthew 15:25.
3. Raise Hands, 1 Kings 8:54-55; Psalm 63:4.
4. Stand, 2 Chronicles 20:2-9; Luke 18:9-14.
5. Lie Prostrate, 1 Chronicles 21:16-17; Matthew 26:39.
6. Look Up, Mark 6:39-44.
7. Pray Quietly, 1 Samuel 1:9-18
8. Shout, Psalm 66:1-4; 71:23; 95:1;
However we choose to pray, do so in faith.
Ron,
Excellent references! Thanks for sharing your meditation with us!!
Ron,
Looking over your references again, I see a pattern: The physical body is subordinated to what the spirit is doing. I think that is very instructive. Thanks again!
Jeff,
Your questions seem to be on the surface, simple, but are in reality big. You’re right, in every action we are in our Omnipresent God who is the source of all life. However it is only actions where we seek and spiritually submit to His will, live in His Spirit that we can enjoy His genuine love for all His creation.
Ron
Nicely said, Ron! 🙂
A lot of great thoughts here today, a true blessing!
The Bible speaks a lot about positions and conditions of our body. Always though it leads back to being filled with the Spirit. God is literally right there in front (and all around) of you, you just can’t see Him with your eyes. I can only “see” Him when I focus my attention on Him, and not focus on myself. That requires that humility and contrite heart. Bowing, kneeling, hands up, all these really just help me surrender my will. It is an expression of what is in my heart. One can kneel and not surrender though, so the true importance is what is happening inside your heart.
Thanks Chris!
Good point about how the spirit is key. The body’s posture alone does not compensate for a rebellious spirit.
It’s been a while since I translated things into my own ‘comfort zone’ AKA the New American Standard. I’ve been trying to consider things as they are presented first, but NIV just is not my language.
Ephesians 3:12 (NASB95): in whom (in Christ our Lord) we have boldness and confident access (to God the Father) through faith in Him.
Jesus gives us the boldness and confidence to be in the presence of God, because of our faith.
Okay, now that my brain got a little untangled….
How does where we are physically or the position of our physical body impact our sense of being in God’s presence?
Some key words in this sentence physically, impact, and sense. We are not talking about where God physically is, we are talking about where we are and where/how we feel God.
1- Romans 1 talks about how God gives people over to their sinful desires. A bit of a ‘if you are really sure you want this over that, then here’s this and that will be taken away.’ I believe there are certain places that are effected by this. Multiple places I have been have that feeling of God forsaken, or given over to the demonic because that’s what the people there chose.
2- Moments in time. Psalms in general. Seeing creation at the right time, and in the right place puts do much into perspective. Sometimes it’s the grandeur that gives you awe for God who made it, or the vastness that makes you realize how big God is, or the beauty that shows how much care God puts into everything. That place may not be ‘sacred ground’ but that moment in time manifested God’s presence in a way that your being could not overlook.
3- Stance. Okay, we’re going multiple directions in this one. Psychologists would tell you that how you stand effects your thoughts. They can make you feel powerful, weak, out of control, calm. Raising your arms in worship is a pose of surrender. You are utterly vulnerable in this position, same as being bowed face to the ground. Many people have said they can feel God’s presence in such positions. The poses that make one weaker tend to be defensive, but not in a fight back kind of way. More like fetal position, where you can take the beatings, but your organs are safe. Those are considered to block everything. You are actively pushing everything out including God. Another avenue to rabbit trail on, yoga. I had a dance teacher who had taken yoga from someone truly into yoga, not the watered down, just for stretching kinda thing. And some of the positions, or exercises, included inviting demons into their bodies. Does it work the same with God? I don’t know, God can use whatever.
4- Sacred places. Since the old testament has given us examples of God claiming a sacred or holy place, I cannot leave this out, but I personally have not experienced a sacred place. I know people would try to argue that the church building is one, but honestly, it’s just a building. Great things happen there, but usually my experiences there fall into the ‘moment in time’ category.
Thank you, Angela!
I appreciate your perspective on this. How do we “feel God?” That is a great question! I think it touches on an important aspect of today’s discussion. We don’t all feel things the same way which means we all experience God a little differently.