Re-centred Senses

To some extent, I've always struggled with the Christian discipline of daily devotion (spending time reading the Bible and praying).  At times I've felt like a complete fraud turning up at another church service without having picked up my Bible since the previous Sunday.  In other seasons, I've devoured chunks of Scripture, hearing God's voice as passage after passage speaks right into my heart.  Prayer then flows instinctively, as an ongoing conversation with God who is so clearly present.

Studying theology means that I spend many hours considering Christian understanding of God.  Whilst this isn't Bible study as such, my convictions about the Bible's authority lead me to take it seriously in my work.  The way that scholars handle Scripture influences my evaluation of their theological methods and arguments.  On a more personal level, when studying sometimes I'm overcome with wonder as a particular truth hits home to me in a new or deeper way.  An essay that I worked on over the Christmas and New Year period turned out less than brilliant, but digging into the truth of God becoming flesh was truly awe-inspiring.

Regular devotional practice is of huge value for Christian discipleship, but I think I'm learning to be more gentle with myself (and hopefully others too).  Whilst self-evaluation can be humbling and revealing, self-bashing achieves nothing and might even suggest that being acceptable to God is something to work for.  I'm actually better motivated to read the Bible and more inclined to pray when I shake off the pressure to perform, and live in consciousness of the sheer goodness and grace of God.  One tool that I find fosters this is the "Lectio 365" app.

The other morning, I came in from a night shift but needed to stay up for a while to supervise my children.  The combination of their half term and an upcoming lecture to prepare had me under some time pressure, so I had thought of opening my laptop to work a little.  I hoped that the boys—full of life and refreshed by a good night's sleep—might bound quietly into their new day.  However, I felt a momentary 'check' in my spirit, of the kind that I ask the Holy Spirit to help me be responsive to, and made the choice to take some time to read and pray instead.

The app's morning devotions invited me to "re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God".  Closing my eyes, I became acutely aware of my senses being pulled in all directions.  So much sound, movement, pressure and possibility.  Silently, I questioned, "how can I apply all my senses to you, God?" and then saw that such re-centring is not so much about suppressing those sounds and demands, but consciously orientating towards God in the midst of them.

A few moments later, as I worked my way through short readings and associated prayers, a boy innocently 'interrupted'.  "Can I search YouTube..."  [parental instinct prepared to say no] "...for a worship song?"  I soon found myself singing together with both of my children, "Your love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on me...  On and on and on and on it goes, and it overwhelms and satisfies my soul",* and rejoicing in its truth.

There's a little book called "The Practice of the Presence of God", by a 17th century Carmelite monk called Brother Lawrence.  I found the style very uninspiring, but it's principle fits so well here.  What might intentionally centring and re-centring our senses upon God's presence look like in the day to day of our lives?  It may even lead to encountering God in those very things that we tend to think of as interruptions.⬦

* Brian Johnson / Christa Black / Jeremy Riddle

One Thing Remains lyrics © Christajoy Music, Bethel Music Publishing, Mercy Vineyard Publishing.

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