“Am I living a presence-driven life?”

It’s a question I’ve been asking myself lately.

Am I living life with a singleminded pursuit? Is everything I say and do to attract a deeper measure of the presence of God?

I really hate religion and I really hate the parts of me that tend to bend in that direction. I want to stay red-hot, crazy in love with Jesus! I want the pursuit of His presence to be the only thing that my life revolves around.

Here’s how things look when seeking God’s presence becomes (or realigns to become) my life’s purpose:

I. “Right or Wrong?” Thinking Gets Replaced By “More or Less?”

The way I approach “Good or bad?” or “right or wrong?” changes.

“Will this get me in trouble with my peers?” and “Can I still 'love God' and get away with this?” thinking is replaced by “Is this going to get me more of less of the presence of God?”

When I truly live a presence-driven life, my decision making processes transcend rules and religion and become true relationship. I begin making decisions based on how they will effect my intimacy with God.

II. I View My Time As The Most Valuable Resource I Possess

The only substantial thing that I can give God is my time. Obviously, this includes the time I spend with Him in devotion. However, I can be presence-driven with the rest of my time.

What could I spend my time doing that would bless the heart of God the most? Where could I spend my time that would invite Him closer into my life?

III. I Would Guard My Thoughts And My Mind

“Does this thought produce life or death in me?” “Will entertaining this thought move me closer towards the Lord, or further away?”

Our minds can be a sanctuary for the Lord to dwell, if we choose to make it a place He would feel comfortable.

IV. I Would Be Much More Careful As To What I Let In My Spirit

Like the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out.” I know people have gone off the deep end with this, but, I can only share my honest experience here:

When I’m not careful as to what I allow in front of my eyes, and into my ears, my relationship with God suffers.

I’m not talking about if you listen to a secular song, you will dive straight into sin. But what I am saying is the things that we let into our spirits truly do influence us in major ways.

Let me put it like this:

I have never met anyone who made room for a ton of worldly movies, shows, and music, looked at their spiritual life, and then thought to myself, “I want my walk with God to look like theirs.” Every one of the men and women of God who I look up to have all made decisions to protect what they let into their spirits.

So, I understand there are a ton of ways living a presence-driven life can look, but these are the ones that I am recommitting to God in this season. I am so hungry for more of Him and just know that He is about to do something big.

I pray that God calls us all into a greater pursuit of His presence!