Thoughts on “How to be in the presence of God and actually be aware of it...”
Since I'm not an expert, I can only give you beginner's advice I've learned from other beginners.
Here are three really easy steps I use.
Stop. Look. Listen.
1. Stop: Take a moment and think about what's been going on today. Think about people you've met, thoughts you've had, experiences, classes, traffic jams, parties, fights, conversations with friends, frustrations, whatever…if it helps, make a list on paper.
2. The next step requires you to look at the things that happened in your day in a different way than you might be used to. Try imagining how you would think about your day and everything that happened as if you were married. Let me explain. Right now, being single (or at least not married) whatever happens in your day are things that just are happening to you. Sure, maybe someone else is involved, but for the most part, you are the only one dealing with whatever it is that's been going on today. So how would you think differently if you had a wife or husband who you loved and was your best friend? When you’re close with someone, you can kinda already see this change in thinking about life happening. Great friends, whether you're dating them or not, are people who want, almost demand, to share your day. The person who you’re in a relationship with wants to know about what's happened throughout your day-- and not just big things, but small things, even. See, everything in a really awesome relationship happens not just to you, but in a very real way, it happens and matters to both people in the relationship. The more love there is in the relationship, the more you stop just thinking "I" and the more you start thinking "We". This change is what gives marriage its power and beauty. Two lives share everything, even if it’s imperfectly. So then, imagine your day from the perspective “we” and not "I", not just a day full of things that are happening to you, but between you and God.
3A. Now, as you are looking at everything, even the small things, start talking to God as if He is sharing it with you. Tell him about things as if you and God were in a relationship where he wants to know everything. The great this concept is that even if you don't feel close to God and you're trying for the first time to imagine being this close with Him, through baptism and the sacraments, the truth is that God’s been in a relationship with you from the start. He's always been there and He wants you to start talking to him this way. God wants everything to be about both of you. He wants everything in your life (big and small) to be something you both share together, you both experience together. In marriage, everything from buying a TV to eating dinner is part of the marriage. There is nothing that happens that is "outside" of your relationship with your spouse. This way of looking at your day takes practice. God knows that and He is ready to help.
3B. Like a good marriage, this way of praying means that you don’t just talk to God about your day, but you let Him talk to you. Ask Him what (name something that happened today) means, what He thinks about it, what He wants you to do, and wait for Him to respond. Just be silent. That's the hardest part about praying. It's also the only way to grow in prayer. Just as much as talking to God in prayer takes practice, so does listening to God. Imagine again you're in a relationship that gets better and better over time. At some point, you can get so comfortable with the person that you enjoy being with them even if no one is talking. You just like to be in their company. Sometimes, if you’re doing all the talking, it’s hard to listen and it’s almost impossible to grow in your relationship enough to ever enjoy the presence of someone, even if you're both silent. See, the 'listening' part about prayer is really about that giving God your attention, not just your words. Sometimes God will be silent and he just wants you to be silent with Him. Sometimes, He will really talk back with you...to hear Him requires patience and practice...most of us are too loud and too easily distractible to really spend time listening. But again, God knows and he promises that he will help us along the way.
There are more steps to build on top of these three, but this is a good place to start. For more thoughts, take a look at the following link:
So there it is, three easy starter steps to prayer. Here's great link that's an easy read to help:
1. http://peterkreeft.com/topics/dynamite.htm
2. http://peterkreeft.com/topics-more/jesus-prayer.htm
Email me if you'd like a great tool to help you pray using the Bible.
I'm a big fan of Peter Kreeft and his book 'Prayer For Beginners' talks about these steps in better detail.
in Christ,
Joe