Welcome to this guide for a week of spiritual reflection and renewal focusing on PRESENCE.

Each day is an opportunity to seek deeper understanding, embrace grace, and nurture a heart of compassion. As you begin, take a moment to calm and focus yourself and prepare to encounter God in new ways.

The Third Essential: Practice Presence 

AN INVITATION TO DAILY WORSHIP

“Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights You most, to value what is precious in Your sight, to hate what is offensive to You. Amen.”

Thomas a Kempis, in Little Book of Prayers

As Found in Disciplines of the Inner Life, Benson and Benson, p. 293

DAILY SCRIPTURES

Sometimes the greatest gift is simply being there. Caring presence says, “You do not have to face this alone.”

A Psalm for Every Day

Psalm 46

Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

God is present with us, and our experience of His presence enables us to be present with others. 

Daily Readings

Monday

Romans 12:15

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

Presence enters another person’s joy and pain.

Tuesday

Psalm 139

“Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?”

God’s presence never leaves us, even in hidden places. 

Wednesday

Revelation 3:20

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”

Christ draws near before He speaks.

Thursday

Philippians 2:3–4

“In humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Presence begins when others matter more than our agenda.

Friday

John 15:13

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

Loving and caring involves sacrafice.

Saturday

Matthew 25:40 / 18:20

“As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to Me.”
“For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I among them.”

Christ is present in caring service for those in need and among those gathered in His name.

Sunday

Exodus 33:14

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

God’s presence gives peace, and ours can too. 

The third essential is important and often underestimated in its importance. 97% of communication is non-verbal. God is omni-present and offers to reveal his personal presence to us. A we relate to people, being fully present is essential. Presence often speaks louder than words. Show up. Stay a while. Remove distractions. Be present.

 
PERSONAL REFLECTION

Even the Apostle Paul, as busy and productive as he was, had seasons of loneliness and even abandonment. He frequently expressed a deep need for others in his life, both for personal support and ministry partnership. Despite his immense strength, he requested prayer, asked for visits, welcomed companionship, and relied on friends to share in his hardships, highlighting that his mission was collaborative rather than solitary. He desired with some urgency that others come to visit him. Loneliness is a major problem in our culture. Lonliness can be addressed by becoming present as we are able but also by teaching that once we trust the Savior, He comes by His Spirit and never leaves us! We may feel lonely but we are never again alone.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

“Lord, I pray for those around me who have lost loved ones and find themselves alone, those who have been hurt or betrayed and feel abandoned, those who are afflicted, abused, rejected and feel forgotten. Teach me how to be present with them, to maintain an undistracted focus on them  so that I can be the physical reminder that God is also present and cares for all of us where we are.”

SONG OF THE WEEK

Does Jesus Care

1 Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

2 Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

3 Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

4 Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]

Blessing

“Never pray for an easier life – pray to be a stronger person! Never pray for tasks equal to your power – pray for power equal to your tasks. Then doing your work will be no miracle – you will be the miracle.” 

Phillips Brooks in Streams in the Desert, August 3, p. 297.