Pressing into the Presence of God

A simple guide for communing with God through Scripture and prayer

To know God and commune with him is the joy of the Christian life. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, communion with God is possible. That’s why the the book of Hebrews invites the church:

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

But how does communing with God work — practically speaking, how do you approach God’s throne of grace? As we consider what it means to approach and commune with God, it’s important that we don’t overly complicate things. For anyone who is in Christ, communing with God rests in their being God’s children. How does a child approach their parent who loves them? Boldly, unreservedly, unabashedly. There are no hoops to jump through or tests to pass. A Christian has access to God even more freely than a child has access to their parent:

The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to Sonship. And by him we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:15–16).

If approaching God is as simple as a child approaching their parents, then why might we need a guide like the one below? Because we are creatures of habit. We are formed by what we do, and especially by what we do repeatedly. A child may be rationally aware that their father loves them; but when that same father scoops the child up in his arms and hugs them close, in that moment the child experiences the father’s love in a way that is deep and profound. By regularly engaging in certain practices and rhythms, like Bible reading and prayer, a person creates space to experience the gift of God’s presence and love.

How to Use this Guide

Begin by picking a book of the Bible to read through. If you’re unsure of where to start or haven’t read much of the Bible, try starting with the book of Psalms or the Gospel of John. Each day set aside what time you can — aim for at least ½ hour, if possible. Depending on how much time you have you might choose to read a whole chapter of Scripture. Those with less time may choose to focus on just a paragraph.

With your Bible open and in reliance on the Holy Spirit, work through the following practices.

READ

Begin by reading the Bible passage once or twice. As you read, mark any words or phrases that strike you as important or personally meaningful. Then ask these questions: what do I learn from this passage…

● About the person and work of God? Pay special attention to how Jesus as saviour is revealed in the passage.

● About myself? About my community?

● About the big story of the Bible? (The fallenness of humanity? The cross? Grace? God’s new creation?)

● About how I should live? E.g., are there any examples to follow, commands to obey, promises to trust?

REFLECT

After you’ve read the passage and sought to better understand it using the above questions, the next step is to reflect. This is an opportunity to focus on how God’s word is challenging and speaking to you. Choose one or two verses from your reading and reflect on the following:

● Teaching: What is the basic truth this passage conveys?

● Adoration: How can I adore God based on that truth?

● Confession: What wrong thoughts, feelings, or behaviours arise when I forget this truth?

● Thanks: How is Jesus the ultimate revelation of this truth and/or the ultimate answer to this sin?

● Supplication: What do I need from God if I am to live in and live out this truth in my life?

PRAY

Now that you’ve heard God’s word to you and spent time reflecting on it carefully, speak back to God whatever has surfaced in your heart. Pray your reflections back to God. As you do, reread the verses you’re focusing on, interspersing God’s word with your words.

● Pray “adoration”: Tell God what you love and adore about him, and why.

● Pray “confession”: admit what you’ve done, and what you are, how you’ve fallen short of God’s glory. Imagine in prayer: what could your life be like if the truth of this passage were powerfully present in your life?

● Pray “thanks”: think about the person of Jesus and his life and ministry, trying to focus on a time where he embodied the truth you’ve been reflecting on. Thank him specifically for who he is and what he’s done.

● Pray “supplication”: Ask God for what you need in order to better live into and live out the truth that this passage points to. Pray this for yourself and for your friends and neighbours, including those who don’t yet share your faith.

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This guide is informed by a lecture given by Dr. Tim Keller at a gathering of leaders at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in September 2000.