How can we discern Jesus' presence in our crowded, busy lives? Crowded Streets, Still Hearts “And His disciples said to Him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” (Mark 5:31) The scene • Jesus is literally jostled on every side. • Nearly everyone is near Him, yet one woman’s deliberate touch stops the entire procession (Mark 5:25-34). • The difference is not proximity but personal, faith-filled contact. Why His nearness often feels hidden today • Obligations, screens, deadlines—modern equivalents of that ancient crowd. • Noise drowns out awareness, not reality; His promise remains: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). • Distraction, not distance, is the chief barrier. Keys to discerning His presence in the press 1. Intentional stillness • “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). • Even a few uncluttered minutes invite fresh awareness. 2. Faith-filled expectancy • The hemorrhaging woman believed a single touch was enough (Mark 5:28). • Expectation sharpens perception; unbelief dulls it (Mark 6:5-6). 3. Scripture-soaked focus • His words are living and active (Hebrews 4:12). • Reading aloud or memorizing a verse turns background noise into holy conversation (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). 4. Whispered prayer amid motion • Elijah met God in “a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). • Short breaths of prayer—“Lord, here I am”—anchor the heart while the feet keep moving. 5. Quick obedience • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word” (John 14:23). • Acting on a prompt (an apology, a gift, a testimony) turns awareness into encounter. What deliberate touch looks like today • Closing a laptop to open a psalm. • Pausing in traffic to thank Him out loud. • Choosing worship music over endless headlines. • Offering help to a stranger because His Spirit nudged. • Journaling a single verse before bed. Other clear signals of His nearness • Luke 10:38-42—Mary chooses listening over serving frenzy. • Revelation 3:20—He stands at the door and knocks, even at busy churches. • Hebrews 13:5—“I will never leave you”; presence is promised, not earned. • Acts 17:27—He “is not far from each one of us.” Living it out this week • Schedule undistracted minutes morning and night; guard them. • Carry one promise verse on a card; glance at it whenever lines, elevators, or notifications crowd in. • Replace one routine task’s background noise with worship or silent prayer. • When hurried, slow the pace of speech; let gentle words testify to an inner awareness of Him. The crowd may press, but a single, faith-charged touch still draws His immediate, loving response. |
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