Practicing God’s Presence

Psalm 37:30-40

30The godly offer good counsel;

they know what is right from wrong.

31They fill their hearts with God’s law,

so they will never slip from his path.

32Those who are evil spy on the godly,

waiting for an excuse to kill them.

33But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed

or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.

34Don’t be impatient for the LORD to act!

Travel steadily along his path.

He will honor you, giving you the land.

You will see the wicked destroyed.

35I myself have seen it happen—

proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees.

36But when I looked again, they were gone!

Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37Look at those who are honest and good,

for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.

38But the wicked will be destroyed;

they have no future.

39The LORD saves the godly;

he is their fortress in times of trouble.

40The LORD helps them,

rescuing them from the wicked.

He saves them,

and they find shelter in him.

In the great Christian classic The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence explains how believers can practice the presence of God not only while reading Scripture, praying, or meditating but also while peeling potatoes in the kitchen.

For David, the challenge was to practice the presence of God in the midst of the wicked. Throughout this psalm we go back and forth between instruction about how to regard the wicked and advice on how we should trust, wait patiently, and obey.

It’s not easy to put all this together. We are to practice the presence of God—to have a right attitude—even when we are peeling potatoes and getting impatient with the drudgery of the task.

Brother Lawrence said, “The time of busyness does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees.”

Brother Lawrence admits this was a challenge, but he began each day by asking God to be with him, to help him apply his mind to his tasks, and to receive what he did as an offering to God. No matter how the ungodly may seem to be prospering and whatever the din and clatter around you, you, too, can learn to practice the presence of God.

Wait on the Lord, you trembling saints!

And keep your courage up;

He’ll raise your spirit when it faints,

And far exceed your hope.

ISAAC WATTS

Notable Quotable

“He who truly trusts in God will wait in God’s time, use God’s means, and walk in God’s way, even though it may seem round about.”

DAVID CLARKSON