In case you hadn’t picked up on it in previous posts… the theme for the Catalyst conference this year is simply: Be Present.

Be present.

Simple. But profound. Especially given the culture we live in… and the pace at which most of us live life.

So the organizers of Catalyst saw fit to task Francis Chan with encouraging us, as Christian leaders, to “be present” to the One who matters most.

The One who has called us to this work.

The One who loves us, empowers us and makes it possible for us to truly “be present” to others.

And if you know Francis Chan at all, than you know that his message was saturated with God’s good Word.

His presence matters!

Does anything else matter?

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

The one who abides in, or is connected to, God will bear much fruit.

63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. John 6:63

The Spirit give life.

The flesh counts for nothing. Nothing.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.

4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.

13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27

Do we seek the presence of the Lord like David did?

Do we fall on our face before God?

Do we count the presence of God as the greatest thing we could pursue every single day?

Probably not.

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

And then Chan shared one of the most shocking statements of the conference thus far:

God doesn’t hear all of our prayers.

I’m still working through that one… because it goes against much of what we’ve heard about God being ever-present and all-caring.

But I think what Chan was ultimately getting at was our need to take reverent posture before the Father. Like Jesus did.

And then a stinging question: Are we present enough in our prayer life that God hears us?

Presence matters.

Being in His presence matters most.

And this is not something we can fake.