Where is God when you pray?
Where is God?
If you were ask followers of Jesus this question today, many would say, "In heaven." Ask the natural follow-up question of where heaven is, and you'll likely get a shrug of the shoulders or a finger pointing to the sky.
This means, of course, when these same followers of Jesus begin to pray, they are directing their prayers to God who is "up there... somewhere" or "out there... somewhere." Unfortunately, this can lead to feelings that God is far away and uninterested in our lives. If that's the case, why would I bother praying?
Bad theology always leads to bad images of God, and bad images of God affect the way we interact with God - especially in prayer.
However, this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, and it helps us regain a better understanding of God's loving presence in our lives.
During the Exodus from Egypt, God gave Israel plans for building a Tabernacle that would be the place of worship for the Hebrews. In the Tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant, and on the cover of the Ark (also called the mercy seat) were two cherubim. This was where God's presence would dwell with the Israelites.
"I will meet with you there. I will speak to you from above the seat of mercy between the two winged creatures that sit atop the covenant chest. From there, I will speak to you about all the commands and instructions I have for the people of Israel."
~ Exodus 25:22
In other words, if Moses wanted to be in God's presence and speak with God, he had to go where the Ark was. The Tabernacle was understood as "the dwelling place of God," or "the place where God lived."
Eventually the Temple was built in Jerusalem, and the Temple became the new dwelling place of God on earth. If a Jew wanted to get as close to God as possible, he or she went to the Temple, because God "tabernacled" (i.e. dwelt with humanity) in the Temple.
Every year at Passover, Jews from across Israel came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices because the Temple was where God tabernacled. When they were away from Jerusalem, they faced Jerusalem as they prayed because that's where God tabernacled, so by facing Jerusalem they were facing God.
Hundreds of years later God dwelt with humanity in a new and marvellous way - the Incarnation. God delivered in the flesh his invitation to be with him. Listen to how John describes the beauty and majesty of the Incarnation:
"The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth."
~ John 1:14
Did you catch the word "tabernacle"? Now, instead of dwelling in a Temple, God lived (or tabernacled) among humanity in Jesus Christ. Jesus truly is the revealer of God to us. What we see in Jesus is true of God. What we hear from Jesus is true of God.
But just like with the Ark, Jesus was localized. He could only be in one place at a time, so as he teaches about his death, resurrection, and ascension, he promises to be with his followers in a new way.
"I will ask the Father to send you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain constantly with you... He will dwell in you."
~ John 14:16-17
Again we have the idea of God dwelling with humanity, but again in a new way. Instead of tabernacling among or dwelling with his people (in a temple or in Jesus), he will tabernacle / dwell in his people. This is why the apostle Paul writes:
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
Paul is writing these words to a church ("you" is plural), making reference to the the fact that the church is the body of Christ on earth. We are the temple where he dwells. However, what is true collectively (the church) is also true individually (each individual follower of Jesus).
So let's put this all together, starting with our original question..
PAUSE and REFLECT: Where is God? When you pray, where do you picture God being? Up there? Out there? In a popular church somewhere?
Stop doing that.
If you are a follower of Jesus, God tabernacles in you! You cannot get any closer to God than you already are.
We have a tendency to chase God's presence around from place to place. There's a hot church service going on at this church. Now it's at that church. We go all over the map trying to get in God's presence in a special way.
I understand that there are seasons of anointed worship and preaching in churches, and people may gather there with a sense of expectation and joy. I also understand that where two or three are gathered, God is present to them collectively in a special way (Matthew 18:20). But we don't have to chase God from church to church.
In my experience, the best way to connect with God is to stop, turn your attention to God who is dwelling in you, and listen. This is why I strongly believe in spiritual disciplines and practices – because they help us slow down, become aware, and connect with the God who tabernacles in his people.
So why not try this next time you pray:
Before you begin, take a few deep breaths and close your eyes.
Turn your attention inward, understanding that God the Holy Spirit is tabernacling in you.
Thank him for his ongoing faithful presence - he is the giver of peace, joy, and wisdom. He helps you pray and gives you insight into His Word. He is not just with you, but in you.
Allow him to love you from within (letting God love us is a beautiful prayer).
If you'd like, share your heart and thoughts with God, but keep directing your attention inward. Do not worry. You're not praying to yourself, but to the God who tabernacles in his followers.
We are used to directing our prayers outward, and it is true that God does dwell "out there." However, being mindful of God in us helps us experience a closeness and intimacy with him we may not experience if we are only mindful of God out there.
God has moved in. He loves tabernacling in you. He is not disappointed with his home in you, because he loves you, and he promises to keep on renovating his home (your heart) to make it even more awesome. Welcome him to the neighbourhood and keep on visiting him.
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Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash