How do I become planted in the Lord’s presence? How do I remain in this presence?
Take your thoughts captive. Jesus said in Matthew 6,
““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”
What He is saying here is to not worry about what you’re going to eat or drink; what you’re going to wear; or what you’re going to do. He has a plan for you that is already set. You just need to listen and follow His direction.
When you take that intrusive thought captive, it means recognizing and acknowledging the thought as it arises, but actively choosing not to allow it to control your thoughts and emotions. It’s an important skill to develop because intrusive thoughts can be disruptive and distressing, causing feelings of anxiety, guilt, or shame.
Only Those Things
Once you’ve identified an intrusive thought, it’s important not to dwell on it or accept it as true. Dwelling on the thought only gives it more power, making it more difficult to let go of. Instead, try to redirect your thoughts to something more positive or constructive. One way to do this is to focus on your breathing or engage in a mindfulness exercise. The scriptures say, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Take time daily to be with the Lord. How many times have you said, “I just don’t have time.” But, you know, if you get up an hour earlier, maybe even just 10 minutes earlier, you’d have those minutes to talk together. You don’t have to scream, shout, or cry. Just be intentional about talking and listening to Your Heavenly Father.
Time to Be Planted
To become planted in the Lord and remain in His presence, we must take our thoughts captive, redirect our thoughts to positive things, and take time daily to be with Him. This means recognizing intrusive thoughts as they arise and actively choosing not to let them control our thoughts and emotions. It also means redirecting our thoughts to things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. By taking time daily to be with the Lord, whether it’s through prayer, reading the Bible, or simply being still and listening, we can deepen our relationship with Him and experience His presence in our lives. It may require sacrifice and intentional effort, but the reward of being in the presence of the Lord is immeasurable.
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