181. Practical Steps to Be Fully Present with God | Rev. Summer Joy Gross

In this episode of the Inherent Identity Podcast, host Tyson engages in an enlightening conversation with Summer Gross, an author and reverend dedicated to helping people develop a deeper and more genuine connection with God. They discuss the concept of 'interactive gratitude,' the importance of experiencing trust as an embodied concept rather than mere information, and how to approach pain and lamentation in God's presence. Key takeaways include the practice of being fully present to connect with others and God, understanding how God views our gratitude, and recognizing that trust is built through regular, embodied experiences. Summer also shares practical exercises such as 'Emanuel journaling' to aid in overcoming blockages in divine connection, highlighting ways to bring all emotions, particularly anger and shame, into the presence of God for healing and wholeness. 00:00 Introduction to Interactive Gratitude 01:13 Welcome to the Inherent Identity Podcast 01:23 Meet Summer Joy Gross 01:59 Experiencing God's Compassion and Presence 03:18 The Power of Being Fully Present 07:27 Practices for Grounding and Stillness 09:10 Emanuel Journaling: A Path to Healing 19:52 Understanding Attachment and Trust 27:00 Bringing Emotions into God's Presence 30:45 Directionality in Spiritual Practices 32:24 Naming the Cost of Pain 34:42 Connecting with God Through Community 36:20 Support Groups and Spiritual Direction 37:30 The Presence Project and Other Resources 40:19 Reflecting on God's Presence 48:28 Building Trust and Overcoming Anger 51:08 Final Thoughts and Resources Connect with Summer: Website: https://www.athirstforgod.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc5v6JTZin8D3S_F10rAd7Q Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revsummerjoy/ The Presence Project: https://www.patreon.com/thepresenceproject Connect with Tyson: Website: https://www.inherentidentity.com/ The Receive Experience: https://inherentidentity.com/receive-experience