The Instructive Presence of God

In Calvin Miller's book, "Into the Depths of God", in his chapter about prayer, says this: "Where we volunteer for silence, and put our personal agendas to sleep, God comes to us, and his coming instructs our lives."
It strikes me that when am quiet before God, I do not need long before I begin to understand the things in my heart that are wrong, and the things in my life that need to change. The very presence of God is convicting, and the words of scripture can't be read without understanding what is unpleasing to God in our lives. When I quiet myself, at any point in the day, and just address the Lord, the things that are ugly, selfish and sinful lose their common allure and lustre. And the ordinary acts of obedience and love begin to become beautiful and attractive. In short, life is put in proper perspective when I am in the presence of God. Intentionally in His presence, that is.
It begs the question, why do I ever shun the Lord's invitation to walk with Him? Of course its not surprising. Enjoying God's presence necessitates our own rightness with Him. Its not always easy to deal with my sin. But its always worth it. Psalm 34 says, "The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him." God never turns anyone away. Throughout Psalm 34 he talks about how God is attentive to the righteous, and that they will be delivered. But David also calls himself "a poor man." It isn't hard to understand our poverty when we catch a glimpse of God's righteousness and glory.

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.