Your purpose is found in His presence

New to it, or true to it - God doesn't care about what you've been through or how long you've known of Him. He just wants to know if you truly know Him. Finding His presence and remaining present in it is where you will find your purpose. To know Him is to know yourself. Because that is who He knew you to be from the beginning.

In Your Presence

Your presence is my present. The gift of your presence.

Show me how to be present.

Your presence makes me present. Your presence moves my present.

That's when I'm aware.

Of who you are, of who I am.

Here I stand - in your presence.

Aware of where I am in the present.

Your presence is here. Your presence is ever-present.

Your presence is my present. The gift of your presence.

Show me how to be present.

Your presence makes me present. Your presence moves my present.

What can distract me now? My thoughts can no longer bring me down.

A mind so loud, I couldn't hear a sound.

Pulled so far out. Finally found my way around.

Back to your presence.

Into your present I go. Through me, your presence will flow.

Your focus is my direction. A path promised protection. On the way to my freedom.

Light up my way, can't turn back now. Walking with you is where I'm found.

In your presence.

Your presence is my present. The gift of your presence.

Show me how to be present.

Your presence makes me present. Your presence moves my present.

Find me in His presence.

-CIN

God found me in my present. Even though it wasn't in His.

When I wrote this poem, it had been a while since I last talked with God. Like really talked to Him. I always talk to Him in spurts throughout the day, but I usually like to give him my undivided, focused attention - praise & worship, prayer, reading my bible, journaling.

I thank God for His mercy because He found me where I was at.

I remember starting to feel overwhelmed as I came into His presence because my mind started to bring up all the backlog. There had been some things going on in my life and it felt like there was a million things to talk about - past, present, and future.

Even though my mind was racing, I could feel my heart, His presence, telling me to be calm, be still.

Right then, my daughter woke up from her nap and walked out of the room. Mommy-mode was immediately activated: "Hiii my baby. How'd you sleep? Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?" I began naming off all the options I could cook for her, which all received a "no". But she did say "water". Because that's what she needed right then and now. All she needed in that moment was water.

That's when I came into an understanding of what He was telling me - why He needed my spirit to be still in His presence.

God said, "What do you need right now?"

I often get so occupied with my physical life that I don't stop to be in His presence. I get so pulled into living life that my schedule from day to night is completely filled up with all of the things that I need to do. I began to realize that I do the same thing when I enter His presence. As I look at what I've been through, what I'm currently going through, and what's to come, I'm praying against generational cycles/curses, strongholds, protection for myself & my family, breakthrough, blessings, forgiveness, healing, my community... the list goes on. The thought of everything is why I initially felt overwhelmed.

But God reminded me of the present. And how to be in His presence - by being present. And staying there. No matter what life brings.

What do you need right now? What is your daily bread?

That's where His purpose for you will be found.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Matthew 7:7 KJV