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Writer's pictureDericka Canada Cunningham

Ever-Present

Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder

August 15, 2022



This Week's Anchor


Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”


Psalm 139 7-10 (NIV)

 

Several years ago, I became an avid mindfulness meditator. I first connected with meditation during a time when I needed the most—a point early in my doctoral program journey when the accumulating anxiety and stress weighed on me heavily and my mind, body, and soul needed something consistent to ground me. I had only lived in the Greater Boston Area for a couple of years and struggled to make a deep connection with a church community. I attended a local church but grieved the old church family that I established while getting my undergraduate degree in Louisville, KY. To put it simply, I was running on fumes, and something had to give. Like others, I had deemed myself unable to sit still long enough to meditate for more than a couple of minutes, and I wore my inability to cease my thoughts as a badge of honor. And yet, at that desperate time in my life, I felt called to meditation and eventually made it a consistent part of my life. To my surprise, it became easier with practice and I found myself in awe at the way it brought me deeper into God’s presence.


Fast forward a decade later, and I still hold meditation (and my beloved Calm meditation app) dear to my heart. Meditation has consistently improved my overall well-being and invited tender moments with the Holy Trinity. But like any good thing, we humans somehow find a way to lose sight of it, and this has certainly been true for my meditation practice. Over the past several years, there have been seasons where I am rooted and grounded in consistent practice, and those where my practice is as dry and desolate as a desert. In deeper transparency, I find myself in a desert season right now. With the busyness of life and hyperdrive of survival mode, I’ve not prioritized my meditation practice in the way that I should. Despite knowing that it’s just what I need to stay rooted in this season, my flesh has been weak in sticking with consistent practice. When I’m not as consistent as I’d like to be, I feel a sense of guilt, shame, and a bit of grief. However, as soon as I wade through all the emotions and press through the amotivation to set aside time to meditate, I am always overwhelmed with gratitude for the warm welcome that my meditation practice seems to bring me. And each time I’m greeted with this welcome, I feel God pulling on my heartstrings, reminding me that connecting with this practice is connecting with Him, and no matter how far or long I drift, His presence is right there waiting for me to return, with open gracious arms.


Our anchor scripture this week illustrates God’s omnipresence. How powerful it is that no matter what, come what may, we are never too far from God’s sight or presence? It’s certainly reassuring for me. If you find yourself feeling convicted about not connecting with God, whether it be through prayer, devotion, meditation, or any other practice, I invite you to consider some affirmations to re-ignite your motivation for movement:

  • You are human—It’s okay that you’ve steered off course, what’s most important is that you have the courage to get back on it.

  • It will happen again—None of us are perfect, so we can bet on the reality that we will veer off our purposed paths from time to time. Acknowledging and accepting this can help us have less shame (which demotivates change) and feel more self-compassion (which motivates change).

  • When God said He’s all-present, He meant it—As our anchor scripture declares, if you go into the valley, He’s there. If you enter a wilderness, He’s there. Wander here, wander there and He can show up at any moment you call for Him.

  • “Not all those who wander are lost”This is one of my favorite quotes because it reminds us that sometimes our wandering is either predestined or if not, can generate great purpose in our lives. Have you ever thought you were physically lost and discovered something special (e.g., a nice restaurant, a beloved store, an unexpected park, or a creek)? In moments when we find ourselves feeling off course and lost, we can ask God to help us find meaning in it.

As we enter yet another week, I pray that we feel empowered to find moments to connect with God’s peace-inducing, life-restoring, wisdom-growing, purpose-revealing, comfort-giving, burden-releasing presence. Take one step toward God’s presence and know that it is meaningful. May His presence find us in moments when we need it most.

 

Reflection

  • What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?

  • What do you need from yourself/others to help you more consistently connect with God’s presence?

  • What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?


Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week

  • Psalm 113:4-6

  • Isaiah 57:15

  • Jeremiah 23:23-24

  • Nahum 1:5

  • Matthew 6:6

  • 2 Corinthians 3:17-18



My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide


 

A Song of Inspiration



 

Quote of Love & Liberation


“A woman’s heart should be so hidden in God that

a man [or person] has to seek Him just to find her.”

Maya Angelou








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