Do You Have a Long Distance Relationship with God?
Hi, I hope you’re doing well. This week’s Newsletter is about sensing the presence of God in our daily lives. It is not just a matter of whether we believe or do not believe in God. It’s the kind of relationship we currently have with Him.
Do you feel close most of the time? Or do you sometimes feel like you are in a long distance relationship with Him?
Following are just some of my posts this week about practicing the presence of God. I hope that like me, you can also reflect upon the way you sense God’s presence in your life.
Are You In a Long Distance Relationship with God?
Have you ever felt as though you were in a long distance relationship with God?
I did. For quite some time, I never thought I was. But just recently, while I was reading “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence, I’ve realized the kind of relationship I’ve had all along.
What’s a long distance relationship? It’s the kind when you and your loved one are separated by distance such that you have very less time together. If you could spend time together somewhat, it’s on very rare occasions. Most of the time, you communicate through letters, emails or phone calls. You may also use social media a lot.
With my relationship with God, I couldn’t say that I never talk to Him, because I did. But those times were not as often as I should have.
For instance, I do pray in the morning and at night. I also pray the rosary in the afternoon. Once in a while, I read the Bible or some religious books. I also remember Him whenever I listen to inspirational or religious songs, not to mention love songs that also remind me of Him.
That’s just like having a relationship with someone from a distance. Someone you just talk to over set periods of time. Someone you write to. Someone you remember now and then. But for most of the day, you’re not with that person. You are not in his presence.
Compare this kind of relationship with someone who spends most of the day with you. While you may not be together all the time, you spend more moments together. You’re together as you watch your favorite shows. You enjoy each other’s company while you eat your meals. You may even clean the house together or do some chores while in each other’s presence.
Do you also have a long distance relationship with God? What are the ways you can find so you can stay in His Presence all the time?
“You see God created you and I
to be happy in this life
and the next… He cares for you.
He watches your every move.
There’s no one that loves you
can do that.”
– Mother Angelica
Practicing the Presence of God
“The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them – through faith or unbelief – that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that He only permits trials to come our way for our own good.” – Brother Lawrence
I have been reacquainted with the classic book The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a 17 century Carmelite friar. He was able to find connection with God even in everyday tasks like working in the kitchen.
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to acquire the same sense of God’s presence in my life. I wanted to be near Him not only when I pray or when I read the Bible, but even as I go about my ordinary tasks.
While I could start on my own and try to call to mind God’s presence, I wanted to have assistance in this journey. On my own, I know that due to my weaknesses, it will not be an easy task. Because while it is ideal, the thought of being connected always to God is not a light matter even for those who believe in Him.
What if I keep on sinning? What if my thoughts wander all the time? Considering my somewhat scrupulous tendencies, I need God’s grace to help me with this.
If you also want to read the book, below are the links to the free copies you may download online:
Is God Angry All The Time?
One of the thoughts I need to set aside is that thought that God could be angry all the time. Angry for my failures. Angry for my stubbornness. Angry for my many sins.
If I feel that God is always angry, how could I desire to sense His presence?
God is love. There may be a lot of times when He feels sad and disappointed for my faults, but I must set aside my image of Him that’s angry all the time.
After all, did He not want us to refrain from hate? Hate is a poison that kills the heart and soul. Hate is that which prompts a person to kill his brother. To hate is to already suffer the pains of hell even while on earth.
Is that the kind of feeling then I must attribute to God? It is certain that He will never approve of my sins, but it is also certain that He is the God of Infinite Mercy and Compassion. He knows my weakness. He knows I’m but like dust. And He loves me. That’s what I must always keep in mind.
Here’s one of the most beautiful quotes I’ve ever read from Julian of Norwich:
“our Protector God has no need to forgive us, for the Divine is not angry with us; it would be impossible for God to be filled with vengeful wrath. I saw that our lives are grounded and rooted in love; without love, we would not be alive. When grace allows us to look into the amazing Divine Goodness, we see we are endlessly made one with God in love and it is impossible that anger separate us from Divine Love. For wrath and friendship are opposite forces. How could the One who erases and heals our angry arrogance, making us gentle and humble, be anything but unified in love, all gentleness and humility, which is the opposite of wrath?”
— Julian of Norwich (All Shall Be Well: A Modern-Language Version of the Revelation of Julian Norwich by Ellyn Sanna)
Here is an excerpt from The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence:
“I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruption, and who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched with a sensible regret, I confess to Him all my wickedness, I ask His forgiveness, I abandon myself in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me. The King, full of mercy and goodness, very far from chastising me, embraces me with love, makes me eat at His table, serves me with His own hands, gives me the key of His treasures; He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways, and treats me in all.”
Sweet Conversations With God
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practise and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.”– Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Have you ever had a phone conversation with someone you hardly realized you were speaking for hours? Have you ever spent a day with a dear friend feeling at the end of it that the time you spent together was too short?
If we can have such thoughts and feelings with other people, could it be that we could also feel something similar when we are in God’s presence?
And if we could practice sensing the presence of God each day, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to talk with Him during the day?
We can talk with Him in the morning as we prepare ourselves for the day’s tasks. We can talk with Him as we go about our duties. We can talk with Him when we’re having our meals. We can talk with Him before we go to sleep.
He is our dear Friend, the One who loves us and watches over us. May we find the time today to have these sweet conversations with Him as we bask in the light of His Presence.
“Wherever I go, God is with me in my poor heart. That’s the little house where I dwell; it’s my heaven here on earth. I live with God; and despite being on walks, we converse with each other without anyone being able to surprise us or interrupt us. If you knew Him enough, you would love Him. If you were with Him for one hour, you’d know just what heaven on earth is.” -St. Teresa of the Andes (letter 40)
“It is not necessary for being with God to be always at church. We may make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love.Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less. He knows what we can do. Let us begin, then. Perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part.”– Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
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“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” - Psalm 147:3-4
