What a fool believes!
The Present Pressing Realities vs. The Reality of His Presence
Practicing the Presence of God – a Hallmark of a Transformational Company

Recently while meeting with a group of business leaders we talked about this very thing.  I framed the conversation around this thought:  Are you currently being driven by the ‘present pressing realities in your life? or by the reality of His presence in your life?
Our present pressing realities are typically extremely negative and look like this: We’re in the midst of a recession.  Businesses are cutting staff.  There’s no opportunity out there; The people I work with are not…; I can’t step out into a new initiative now – it’s too risky, wait till things settle down first.  The other end of the spectrum is over confidence based in pride and self reliance.  It’s that entitlement mentality that borders on arrogance and attitudes of pride.  Interestingly enough – unbelief sits in both places.  Fear, rebellion, pride, self preservation and mistakes from the past all contribute to this battle.

The Fruit of Unbelief consists of -
• Obstructs God’s presence and power in our lives.
• Opens the door to taking offense, especially toward God, and many times toward those who are living in obedience to God
• Nurtures a root of skepticism
• Hinders prayer
• Leads to instability
• Feeds a critical attitude
• Desensitizes God’s people to the Holy Spirit
• Poisons others
• Fosters arrogance and pride
• Undercuts a high regard for God’s word and character
• Can breed judgementalism

The scripture that came to mind as we talked through this was 1 Corinthians 1:20 – 25
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.” 
With a few adjustments this section of scripture could have been written today.  The key within these verses are through the statement Paul makes about Christ.  Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  There is a stark contrast between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God.  
The Wisdom of Men is wisdom that walks by sight; the Wisdom of God is wisdom that walks by Faith.  The wisdom of man is program driven, the wisdom of God is purpose driven.  The wisdom of man is performance driven, the wisdom of God is presence driven.  The wisdom of man is based on transactions, while the wisdom of God is established and driven by relationship.  

It is in the Wisdom of God – the place of surrender, dependence, humility, complete trust and faith that God calls us and wants to bless us.
Large faith believes God.  Many of us believe in God, but it is entirely different to believe God.
• Unbelief fears God doesn’t – Faith believes God does!
• Unbelief fears God can’t – Faith believes God can!
• Unbelief fears God won’t – Faith believes God will!

The presence reality that God wants us to live in consists of faith in Him and Him alone.  No extras, no conditions, and no limits.  His provision, His purpose and His promises are all complete in who He is and wants to be in us and through us.  He said He will always be with us.  He said that apart from Him we can do nothing.  He said that He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  He said He will supply all of my needs according to His riches in Glory.  He said He chose us and appointed us to be a representation in the earth because of this covenant relationship.  What is often hard to believe in a world where self preservation and self reliance are considered premium qualities is that living completely surrendered to something – someone who exists in less than tangible forms can really bring hope, meaning and substance to our lives. 
I can’t convince you of God and you can’t convince your neighbor or co-worker or friend.  The only way they can come into a place where Jesus Christ is hope, meaning and substance is to experience Him first hand.  Experience out trumps reasoning everyday of the week and twice on Sundays.  This is the nature of the Kingdom of God.  When Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God being at hand He meant that it was there, in proximity and waiting to be experienced and shared.
You and I become the conduits for this every day.  Here’s a simple start and one that could make room for someone in and around you to experience the presence of God today.  The next time you’re in a conversation with someone at work, in the store or on the phone and they share a life detail that requires prayer – instead of tell them you’ll be praying for them – ask them if you can pray with them – right there – at that moment.  This could be the first of many experiences of the Power and Wisdom of God they ever have.
As we wrapped up the conversation at the business meeting I asked this question – Do you think Christians in the Marketplace are more apt to practice principles or practice the presence of God in their workplace?  Based on what really brings transformation – What do you think we need to do more?  It was unanimous – practice the presence of God in the marketplace.
Here’s a final verse of scripture to bring into focus what God says –
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.”   Jeremiah 9:23, 24

Patrick McBane is the Executive Director of Marketplace Solutions - You can find more marketplace insights on the web at -  www.4marketplacesolutions.org  Or sign up for the monthly newsletter by contacting 4solutions@sbcglobal.net and put subscribe in the subject.