Are you feeling the presence of God each day?

This is a big question! Are you feeling the presence of God each day? In fact, I will make it even more pertinent: are you feeling the presence of God each minute? In my experience, this is what it means when we read "pray without ceasing."

Reading inspirational books is a good start. Meeting with other spiritually-minded folks is helpful. Listening to speakers can be uplifting. BUT, there is no substitute for sitting in the secret, sacred silence and listening to God. That to me is what prayer is: listening.

As a young girl, I was taught to ask for things when I prayed. Many people were. Just ask God for what you need. Tell Him (and it was always a him) what you need, what is in your heart. Well, that put a very understandable spin on God because, somehow, he was like my Daddy. I just asked him for what I wanted and he'd tell me yes or no. So, it made sense.

Then, there was the issue of really praying for forgiveness when I did something I knew I should not. In fact, I was given an idea that it was almost magic. I could do something, and then, if I asked for forgiveness, all was right again. That seemed curious to me because it was a system I could manipulate. Now, I won't admit to manipulating that system, but it did occur to me that it was quite convenient!

I was taught that God was Omniscient, Omini-present and Omnipotent. Big ideas! It occured to me that I could not believe that God was Omniscient AND think I had to tell him what was going on with me. It had to be one way or the other: He knows everything, or, he needs me to keep him updated. Life got simpler when I decided to believe in Omniscience alone. The only update I need is to keep me tuned in.

It's a bit like forgetting the electricity is in that wall socket and thinking myself so powerful that I can run with my plug out. Then, when things start going sideways, rush back with great benevolence, and put my plug in, promising never to un-plug again. What kind of spiritual convenience is that? Could that be considered a 'spiritual life.'

Now, after all these years of spiritual inquiry, study, meditation, yoga and (hopefully) learning, my view is quite different. It comes from continuing the search for understanding through the stages of my life. Now, there is only one goal: the moment-to-moment realization of God, that God IS. When I stand there, all is taken care of. There is nothing to be concerned about, nothing to fear. All is supplied. There is nothing to desire but the continuous realization that God is and all the implications of that Truth.

Many blessings,
Rhoberta

Rhoberta Shaler, PhD
Founder, Spiritual Living Network, www.SpiritualLivingNetwork.com
Co-Author, SOUL SOLITUDE: Taking Time for Our Souls to Catch Up , www.SoulSolitude.com
Author of the upcoming book, SOUL-DRIVEN LIVING, www.SoulDrivenLiving.com