The first week or two of Guatemala, motivation was little to none, tiredness was becoming the norm, and waking up was very hard to do. Where was the Natalie that lived in the States? Where was the fire burning from within that lit my lamp of motivation every morning? Who had I become and what factors had shown up to play into this picture that was starting to look dreadful?
After talking with several others and asking for prayer about this issue, I’m comforted to discover I wasn’t the only one dealing with these things; however, many of my squadmates were as well.
From the minute we stepped foot into Guatemala, I felt a sense of spiritual heaviness. I acknowledged this and moved on with little thought or attention devoted to the power of presence. No longer was this a personal battle, but it was a spiritual battle that didn’t only affect me, but affects a nation on a daily basis.
As I began to sort through all this through prayer, the word, and friends I began to get convicted about the presence in which I carry, how I am not intentional about it all the time like I should be, and how much it affects other people.
You see, I walked into Guatemala and was immediately taken in and influenced by it’s presence. Guatemala didn’t have to choose to impact me, it just naturally happened. Guatemala didn’t have words with me. Guatemala itself didn’t even personally interact with me much at all, but Guatemala inevitably had a presence that was stronger than a choice, stronger than words, and stronger than any other sort of interaction.
However, not stronger than the God I serve to release me from this presence.
Everyone and everything, whether you realize it or not, carries a presence. A presence that is made up of many things. For a nation, it’s made up of the culture and the presence of many individuals. For a single person, it’s the choice of who you believe in your heart that you are and the choices that come with every day life in walking those beliefs out.
The same way I experienced the power of presence in a negative way, my prayer is that others would want to take with them, rather than pray off, the presence that exuberates from my human being.
I want a presence that is over flowing from my love from God.
A presence that’s full of his peace when things may seem rocky.
A presence that is patient, kind, loving, and above reproach.
A presence that is compelled to action through immense compassion.
A presence that is joyful and always full of bright, uplifting words.
A presence that is bold, unshakable, and never determined by the opinion of man.
A presence that is so loving that all fear must leave.
A presence that is safe and secure, full of trust and assurance.
A presence that breaks down walls of unforgiveness and claims freedom.
A presence that compels others to worship God.
A presence so full of God himself that others can’t deny who He is.
A presence that is Christ in me, the hope of Glory.
There is so much more than presence and the power it carries than I have ever given the time of day to. It’s so important to be the best me, through Christ, in order to inevitably impact others just by being there.
There will be times where I can’t speak the same language. There will be times when the ears of people aren’t open or willing to hear. There will be times when people will turn away the voice of the Gospel, but one thing that can never be turned down by me or any other person, is their presence, which is a very powerful thing and has the ability to change others.
May my presence be everything that God wants it to be and may I never take for granted the power that it carries and the opportunities it has to change lives.
Presence is not just about me, but everyone that I come in contact with. It impacts every person that sees me, whether in conversation, or just from afar. I can’t even begin to count how many people that is a day that my presence can reach far greater than my words or any other interaction.
Love others enough to pursue the power of your presence in a way that is eternally effective for His kingdom, despite other’s willingness or unwillingness to be ministered to in other ways.
The power of presence may be all you have, but at times, it's all you need.
