Stillness in the Presence of God's Word

This Post Originally Appeared in 2016

​Communion is such a beautiful activity to which we are invited, and even commanded, by our Heavenly Father. We partake in communion services, or Eucharist, at church as we spend time reflecting on the table and last supper. As wonderful as that time is, it's important to understand that communion can happen any and every day. You do not need bread and juice; you just need a heart which desires God's presence and earnestly pursue Him. If you aren't sure where to begin, let me suggest God's primary form of communication to humanity, the Bible. I use Scripture as my primary way of entering communion and what follows is some Scripture that may be familiar but also a great place to begin. You'll notice in these Scriptures that there is no talk of bread breaking or cups being passed. This is about God's Word and being still before Him. ​

For our purposes here I began with Jeremiah 1:5 and then I looked up several parallel verses using BibleHub.com. Not all verses are included here, but the two additional passages I’ve added to the Jeremiah passage are the ones that awakened my soul and made me joyful in His presence.

Take time to read and re-read these three Scriptures. Sit silently and be still in the presence of God’s written Word and allow Him to reveal His heart to you. Furthermore, ask Him to search your own heart and allow Him to reveal your own heart to you. You may want to re-read the passages multiple times. This isn't about getting through it. It's about being with your Maker. I pray this will be a time of revelation and jubilation for you in the presence of your Heavenly Father.

Jeremiah 1:5(NASB)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
            And before you were born I consecrated you;
            I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Galatians 1:15(NASB)
But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased

Psalm 139:13-18(NASB)
For You formed my inward parts;
            You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
            Wonderful are Your works,
            And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
            When I was made in secret,
            And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
            And in Your book were all written
            The days that were ordained for me,
            When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
            How vast is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
            When I awake, I am still with You.

When was the last time you sat in the presence of God and reveled in His Truth? I don’t have a lot to say about these beautiful words, but I will make one somewhat academic observation and offer a few follow-up thoughts. The first Scripture was written by a prophet, the second by an apostle, the last by a king.

A prophet is the mouthpiece of God before the nations. The prophet is gifted by the power of God’s Word, and occasionally, miracles happen at the utterance of God’s Word through the prophet.

An apostle is one who is sent. Just like the prophet was gifted by the power of God’s Word, the apostle was gifted by the power of the Holy Spirit, who glorifies the Son.

This king was anointed by God to lead his people. He was a king who humbled himself in the presence of his Creator and was anointed by God’s Spirit and granted authority by his Creator.

Jesus, like the apostle, was sent by His Father in heaven.(Ph. 2:5-11) Jesus, was a prophet who was not only gifted by the Word of God, He was the Word of God.(John 1) Finally, as the King Eternal, all authority on heaven and on earth was given to Jesus. (Matt. 28:18)

Through the apostle Peter, the Holy Spirit has revealed the following about you.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.

You are holy - set apart as the prophet
You are called - sent as an apostle
You are royal - sons and daughters of the King Most High

There was a time when you were an unformed substance. It was God who formed you and moulded you. He intimately knows the very essence of your being. His thoughts of you are vast and precious.