Sorry to have come to this a bit late in the day...but I have been unwell for a few days. I have come on here and read, but with no concentration enough to post.
Okay..for 'me' it took a while.
Long story short. I told the Lord one day (1982 )that I loved Him, and by His wonderful salvation through Jesus Christ , I knew He loved us.
I told Him that on my "good day" I am aware of His felt presence...but when I am not doing quite so good I don't have that same consciousness of His love.
This was over some days...
I had come to understand His Grace...( that took months. In the word and in my heart I could see it, and kind or knew it... But I fluctuated. A measure of the law still caused a hole in my bucket...ie "do good, get good...do bad, get bad." )
So one morning I lay there and said Lord, Your word says that you love me.
Often I can't feel it, often I don't know your Presence. So, By faith, I will lay here and say " Lord I
know that you love me, regardless "
Next morning I did the same. I did not
feel His presence, but I took it by faith. Then at the end of the week I did the same and said- " I cannot
feel Your love or your presence but by faith I believe it."
That was it...I had an over whelming sense of God presence...I felt the love of God. ( we've all been in wonderful worship services or anointed prayer where God's Holy Spirit takes over and anoints. ) That is how it was.
Since that day I have always been conscious of the love and presence of God. ( not in that mighty anointed way..but a confident deep
knowing..)
I'm never unaware of Him with me.
Well I lie..."red face".
I had surgery in '05 it was a perfect surgery ...and the surgeon said so.
Two days later everything "went sideways". I was angry at God and told Him so. ( I told Him that He abandoned me..blah blah blah.. I sulked.
I wouldn't speak to Him. Needless to say it took me a long time before I could repent of that.
I was stuck in hospital for 10 days because of that.
When we are "off with God" one of us has to speak first...and it wasn't Him.
He just waited until my disappointment and sulk was over...and I was ready to talk
So..except for that period of time...I am always conscious of Him. He is always 'very there' for me.
It starts by faith, and becomes a reality.
This is just a peaceful, wonderful confident consciousness that I am talking about here.....which is different from the times that we are before Him and He lifts us up into the rapturous hight's.
Thats my story anyway.