Day 1: Desiring God’s Presence
Scripture
Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”’
Prayer Prompt
"Lord, I come before You today with a deep desire for Your presence. Just as the deer pants for water, my soul longs for You. Help me to recognize my need for You in every moment. I ask that You draw near to me as I draw near to You. Fill me with a longing for Your presence that surpasses all else. Teach me to recognize the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit and to seek You above everything else in my life."
Reflection
Take a moment to reflect on your personal hunger for God’s presence. What does it feel like when you long for God? Consider areas in your life where you might be filling the void with other things instead of seeking God’s presence. Throughout today, allow the physical hunger you experience from fasting to remind you of your spiritual thirst for God. Whenever you feel that hunger, stop and reflect on how your soul is longing for His presence more than anything else. Use that moment to say a short prayer, asking God to come and meet with you.
Application
The following exercise is designed to help us keep turning our hearts back to God in a persistent manner throughout our day.
Set your alarm on your phone to go off once every hour from the time you normally get up to the last hour of your day.
When your alarm sounds, take three minutes to interact with God (yes, only 180 seconds!). For the first minute, center your thoughts on God. Think of His attributes, His names, and mental images of God that are true to His character. Worship Him for who He is.
After one minute of letting your thoughts be focused on Him, thank Him for the ways He has loved you, blessed you and answered your prayers. Do this for one minute.
In the third and final minute of your hourly pause, pray a prayer of surrender. “Father, I give myself to You.” “My life is Yours.” “You are the boss and You are in charge...” you get the idea!
After about three minutes, go about the routines and work of your day.