Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence” (Exodus 33:18, NLT).
Seeking the “presence of God” has been a part of my walk with Jesus since I became a Christian.
Several times I have traveled for a retreat at a campground in the mountains or a monastery in Kentucky, and the retreats have always ended with my asking …
God, show me Your presence; allow me to walk in Your glory!
There is something about God, when we know that He exists, that makes us want to be in His presence. Perhaps the most famous quote about “presence” comes from an ancient saint named Augustine, who lived from 345 to 430 AD …
Those hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.
Listening to reports of the recent Asbury Revival, I heard comments about the presence of God. Have you experienced the presence of God recently? As the book of James says …
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8, ESV).
How can we draw near to God? How can we experience His presence?
- Presence by Faith
Scripture begins and ends with God’s presence. We see God with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and in the book of Revelation, we find …
No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads (Revelation 22:3-4).
The first step to experiencing God’s presence is to believe that He exists, to know that He wants to manifest His presence to us.
- Presence is Peace
Do you have questions about God? Are you grieving without understanding the reason for trials?
God doesn’t explain His ultimate purposes, but He gives us Himself. This is why Jesus came and died. God allows trials to encourage our pursuit of Him, and in His presence, we find a peace that surpasses understanding.
Amid difficulties, we decide like Job, “Even if He slays me, I will trust Him” (Job 13:15), or we walk away from God. Interesting to note that the Old Testament describes the Israelites’ sins as causing their nation to crumble.
Yet they blamed God.
We experience God through pain. Trust Him, as trials are often the location of His presence.
- Presence by Worship
An author that I read frequently writes …
Anyone can get happy after the miracle has come. Show me someone who celebrates before the answer, and I’ll show you someone who is about to experience the answer. This is the nature of faith – it looks ahead and lives accordingly. (Bill Johnson, Hosting the Presence)
Worship enables us to focus on God. Presence is found when we realize that His greatness is always manifest through His goodness and that He works all things for our good.
I once heard a teacher say, “God wants you more than you want Him.”
Realizing the truth of this statement made seeking God’s presence easier for me. I don’t have to be perfect for God to seek me. But I must humble myself in His presence.
That’s my advice – Faith, Peace, Worship, and Humility!
Enjoy God’s presence today.