Chapter 2: Meeting God in the Moment
CHOOSING PRESENCE PP. 20-21
Highlight the present moment as the primary place for encountering God.
Summary
This section of the chapter articulates that God is found in the "I Am" of the present moment, encouraging a practice of presence that aligns with biblical teachings. It describes practical ways to cultivate stillness and presence, allowing for a more vivid experience of God in everyday life.
How do we know we’ll find God in the present? Because God told us so. When Moses encountered God at the burning bush and asked what he should call God, God said his name was ‘I Am.
— Choosing Presence, p. 20
A Moment for Reflection
Pause for a moment and reflect on the following three questions:
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Reflect on whether you seek God’s presence in external events or if you allow yourself to experience the divine in the stillness of the present moment.
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Consider what you were doing, thinking, or feeling in that moment. How might you cultivate that awareness more consistently in your daily life?
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Identify the thoughts or behaviors that pull you away from presence. What small shifts could help you become more aware of God’s presence in the here and now?
Deepening the Practice: Journal Prompt
Many of us spend our lives searching for God—looking for signs, waiting for big moments, or hoping to feel something extraordinary. Choosing Presence reminds us that God isn’t found in the past or the future, but in the present moment. Stillness and awareness open the door to recognizing divine presence, not as something distant, but as something already here, within and around us. The question is not where God is, but whether we are present enough to notice.
Think about where you have looked for God in your life. Have you been searching in external experiences, waiting for a future event, or clinging to past memories? Now, reflect on a time when you felt a deep sense of presence, peace, or connection—whether in prayer, nature, silence, or an ordinary moment. What made that experience different? How can you practice becoming more aware of God’s presence in your everyday life?