You’ll keep returning only to a place of pleasure, so stay in God’s presence until you create memories strong enough to keep bringing you back. If you don’t, you’ll be lured away by lesser things. 

'How long should I stay in His presence?' you ask. 

(1) Until you’ve truly repented. Listen: 'Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…' 
(2 Cor 7:10 NIV) 

(2) Until your mistakes have been dealt with. Listen: 'People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy' (Prov 28:13 NLT) 

(3) Until your anger subsides. Listen: '…My [own] peace I now give…to you…stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed…' (Jn 14:27 AMP) 

(4) Until your fear leaves. Listen, 'Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you,' (Isa 41:10 NIV) 

(5) Until your pain is healed. Listen: 'I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord…' 
(Jer 30:17 NIV) 

(6) Until your strength is renewed. Listen: 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint' (Isa 40:31). 

All these things can be found in God’s presence. So stay there, until you receive from Him what you need!

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.... The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted." And in my dismay I said,  "All men are liars."

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD , truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD. I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD - in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD "

(Many of the reflections on each page are used with the kind permission of United Christian Broadcastors (UCB) from their FREE daily devotional - The Word for Today. They allow the publication of 52 of their passages per year and I find their messages apt and though-provoking for the times we live in.)

A Circle of Prayer around the world praying for and with each other, for peace and for a world in crisis. Please read more about it and perhaps join us, prayer was never more needed than it is in these times!

Praying all year round for the souls of our deceased relatives and friends, for the souls of those most in need of prayer and for those souls in purgatory who have nobody to pray for them.