So, I have a dog. Well okay, my brother has a dog, but I have claimed joint custody of him, and he’s cool with that. Anyhoo, his name is Maxx, he’s 7 months old, and he likes to do things like sit in front of you when you eat. Well, most dogs do that, but this is about Maxx.
I noticed that no matter how long you don’t share with him, he will sit there in your face hoping that you will. And, even if you do share, he stays, hoping for more. Yep, with that same sad puppy dog face.
I know that that’s how it goes, but some things you don’t actually pay attention to until it happens on a consistent basis.
Maxx came to stay with me for a few days so that caused me to think about these things. Much different than my nieces and nephews. They eventually get tired of hearing no or not receiving what they want and at least give it a rest for a while. But not my dog. He doesn’t rest until all the food is gone and you’ve left the kitchen. Please note that he will be back at the faintest sound of a bag rattle.
Everything We Need is in God’s Presence.
Yep, that’s where I was going with this. I imagine that this is how God wants us to be in His presence. You know, even when He pours into us, He wants us to want more. God never wants us to get enough of Him.
Just as Maxx eats that chip or piece of sausage that we give him but doesn’t take it as his cue to walk away. Nope, he takes it as the sign that there must be more, and he should wait.
Like Maxx, we should take God’s outpour as our signal that there must more, and we should not leave until we have it. Now, this means that we will begin to dwell in His presence since we’d be constantly yearning for more and He would constantly be pouring into us.
Wow. Can you picture it? Being all in the face of God and Him freely giving what our posture seeks after?
So, What’s the Play Call?
I know we have places to be and people to see, but if we just spend time with God first, He will make sure we never get enough. Here are a few things to help us as we learn to constantly wait in God’s presence for more:
- Never stop praying. Since prayer is communication with God, if we never stop, our communication will be constant. Remember that communication goes both ways so be prepared to hear as much as you speak. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Seek God first. If we take the time to seek the things of God, He will be sure to handle everything else. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
- Wait for God to move. The thing I noticed about my dog is that he didn’t leave the kitchen until I left the table. Don’t be so quick to leave God’s presence, you never know what He is willing to give you. “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Psalms 130:5
- Let God feed your hunger. If you seek God for what you desire, you can be sure that He will provide. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
- Take joy in Christ. Allowing God to be the source of your joy ensures Him the space to change your heart. When He is doing the heart-changing, you begin to want what He has for you. “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4
If we vow to never leave the presence of God until we are completely full, then we will never leave.
