#262: Valuing the Presence of God

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

I knew an elderly man one time who had stopped attending church when he was a young man. Something happened in the church and he became offended. As a result, he left the church and did not return until he was an old man. As he came back to church I remember him saying, “I wish I could feel the presence of God one more time.

Do you know what I say that you can “feel the presence of God?” I can’t describe it. I can’t see it, but I know God’s presence can be felt.

It’s so important that we value the presence of God because it is one of the most important blessings we experience as Christians. Yet, it seems few Christians live in the fullness of God’s presence. We need a renewed awareness that God is with us. It’s in the closeness of His presence that we find the power and strength necessary for spiritual living.

I believe there is a manifest presence of God. Yes, he is always with us. But when we seek him, when we draw closer to him, when we pursue him, when we desire him above all things, he rewards that seeking with a greater revelation of himself and the closeness of his presence. He reveals himself in ways we may not have ever experienced. He provides of himself whatever we need in that moment: strength, encouragement, joy, peace, and reassurance, whatever!

Let me explain it this way – A man could say, I feel my son is getting closer to me as he gets older. And yet, his son has always lived in his home. He’s never been away from his father. So what is the Dad saying? He’s talking about the relationship. There is closer intimacy and deeper understanding between the father and son. I think we all understand this is what we are talking about when we say we want to be closer to Jesus.

Jesus came and laid down his life for us so we could know God in a personal way. Sin separated us from God and kept us at a distance. But with Jesus death on the cross we now have the opportunity to receive forgiveness, and with that forgiveness comes access.

That’s right. You have access to God. Jesus did not come simply to give us stuff. He came to give us himself. He came to be with us, to live with us, to walk through life with us.

Isn’t it amazing that we have access to God. He is always available. You don’t have to make an appointment. He is never sick. He is never busy. He is never out of town. He is never in a meeting. Oh, how we need a great awareness of his presence. You are not alone. You have never once been alone. The reason you feel alone is that you are not aware of his presence.

Matthew 1:23 - “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).”

We live in a time when we desperately need rest. Anyone need some rest? Stress levels are at all-time highs. We live with frustration. We live with fear and uncertainty. We battle discouragement. But the cure for all of this is the presence of God.

When I am in God’s presence – everything melts away – depression, disappointment, discouragement, frustration, pain, loss, hurt feelings and emotions, anger. His presence is enough to heal our broken hearts and to give us peace. We need his presence!

No matter what enemies or trials you face, you’ll always be able to find a quiet rest in God’s presence. If you have Jesus’ presence in your life, you will experience God’s divine order. You will live at rest knowing God has everything under control.

Psalm 16:11 – “In his presence is fullness of joy” (NKJV)

Today’s Challenge: Ask God to give you a greater awareness of God presence. Seek daily to experience the presence and power of God in your life.