I remember sitting in a philosophy class at university and having little interest in what the professor was saying. Instead of listening, I began to think of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Suddenly, during the boring lecture, I was transported into another realm of experience as I was enveloped in the presence of God. Nothing was said out loud. No one in the class, but me, was aware of what I was experiencing. I just sat in my chair and was bathed in the presence of God. It was overwhelming.
The awareness of God’s presence could not have been more real or intense. It was awesome. I have never forgotten the experience.
Through the years I have experienced God’s presence in a variety of settings and with varying degrees of intensity. It is something I value. In those moments, God has encouraged me, given me direction and described corrections that needed to take place in my life.
I have learned I can experience God’s presence anywhere. I can know the awe-inspiring presence of God while driving a car, sitting in an airport, working around the house and even on the golf course. God’s presence is everywhere and I can be aware of that presence wherever I go.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10).
God’s presence isn’t limited to the church building. God’s presence isn’t limited to the atmosphere created by singing certain hymns or choruses. God’s presence is not limited to being with certain people. We can be conscious of his presence in all of life’s experiences.
LIVE WITH AN AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. (Psalm 89:15).
The psalmist made it clear. Those who walk in the light of his presence will be blessed.
An awareness of God’s presence builds faith, creates courage, comforts the sorrowful and brings life to our relationship with God. Encountering his presence brings blessing, joy, strength and encouragement.
You can experience God’s presence wherever you are. It will not always be a euphoric sensation, though it may be. Often it will be a calm, serene, sense of peace and quiet confidence. There will be a deep inner conviction that God is present with you.
God’s presence is not reserved for a select group of superspiritual saints. God’s presence is available to you. Jesus said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you!
(Hebrews 13:5). Jesus said, Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 29:20).
Moses knew the importance of the awareness of God’s presence. In Exodus 33, there’s a unique account of a conversation between Moses and the Lord that deals with this question of experiencing the Lord’s presence.
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” (Exodus 33:14-15).
These words were spoken to Moses during a discouraging time early in the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Moses had received the 10 Commandments but while Moses was on the mountain with God, the people had built a golden calf and had started to worship it. The people were dancing around the calf in a lustful, drunken orgy.
After spending 40 days in God’s presence, Moses was heartbroken when he returned and saw the disgusting scene. He was frustrated and felt defeated.
All Moses could do was pray. It’s good to talk things over with God when things don’t go as you expected!
And Moses went back to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin‑‑but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” (Exodus 32:31).
God answered Moses’ prayer. It was a wonderful answer. Most people would have been ecstatic at what God said. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. (Exodus 32:34).
There were two things. First, there were new marching orders. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of. Second, there was a wonderful promise. My angel will go before you. What a thrilling prospect! God’s personal angel would be there to look after him!
Just think how wonderful that would be. Most of us would have been ecstatic. If that happened to some people they could write a book and go on a speaking tour.
But Moses wasn’t satisfied with what God said. He didn’t downplay the importance of angels. He knew they were real and good. Certainly angels provide divine protection, guidance and wisdom but Moses wasn’t satisfied with an angel.
So Moses pleaded with God again. He basically said, “God! Nothing doing! No way! I’m not taking these people anywhere with just an angel with me! An angel isn’t what I need.
Moses was ready to give up his position of leadership. The children of Israel had become idolatrous, 3,000 Israelites had just fallen by the sword in divine judgment, and the Tabernacle of God had been removed from the camp. No wonder Moses said, If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. (Exodus 32:15).
He said, so what if I have an angel, I’m in trouble if I don’t have you! He said, God, I want you to go with me personally.
Many of us can identify with Moses. Some of us face difficult circumstances, some have challenging days ahead and you can feel Moses’ frustrations and hurts. You say with Moses, If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
There is good news for you. God wants to say to you what he said to Moses. The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 32:14).
What a promise! What encouragement. What assurance. What hope! My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Look carefully at the promise of God’s presence.
My. The literal translation of the Hebrew is “I myself.” God was saying, I myself, not someone else, I myself, not even an angel will be with you. God pledged himself to an ongoing relationship with Moses. God wasn’t sending a deputy. God the Creator of everything was promising his personal presence and involvement in Moses’ life.
Presence. God promised to be personally with Moses and that’s what God promises us. God promises you his presence. He says, I’ll help you from up close. He’s not coming to you via a satellite dish; he promises personal companionship here and now. He will turn his face toward you and smile on you.
Will. There is no more certain word in the Bible than “will.” This is God’s promise. God is giving his word and what God says, he will do. Experiencing God’s presence is not wishful thinking. These are the very words of God, spoken not only to Moses, but to us.
You. Moses you have my word. Moses you can count on me; I’m going to be with you. These were words spoken directly to Moses but they weren’t just for Moses. These same words were spoken to Joshua. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5).
These are also words that have direct application to us. God says to us, My presence will go with you.
And I will give you rest. There are two kinds of rest.
There’s rest after a hard day’s work. It’s the rest you get after physical activity.
Then there’s the rest that comes during your work. There’s the rest that comes in the middle of the battle. There’s the sense of calm in the middle of the storm. There’s the inner refuge you have when the winds are blowing all around.
This is the kind of calm God promised to Moses. God wasn’t saying, Moses you’ve worked long enough. Now you can sit down and rest while someone else takes over! God was saying, carry on. The job isn’t done. But while you continue to lead the people, I’ll be with you and I’ll give you peace of mind and I’ll soothe your heart!
That’s the kind of rest God wants to give us today. It’s not time to quit work yet. We haven’t reached the time for spiritual retirement; there’s still work to be done. At times we may get exhausted and worn down. Some people may frustrate us and others may disappoint us but the good news is that in the midst of the battle and in the middle of the work, God is with us and he will give us rest.
When you feel all alone and at the end of your rope, God is with you and you can sense his presence. Perhaps you feel you can’t make it through another week. Be assured of this: you can reach out to your sympathetic heavenly Father and he will give you peace and rest.
Many years ago, Henry Light wrote the words to the hymn, “Abide with Me.” Most of us don’t like to sing that hymn because it’s associated with funerals, but it’s a great hymn and filled with wonderful truth.
Henry Light wrote the hymn just after he received a disturbing report on his own health from his doctor. He learned he was dying and there was no known cure for his disease. So with the desperate news from the doctor and with little hope in his spirit, he looked death straight in the face and wrote these words:
“I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where grave thy victory?
I’ll triumph still, if thou abide with me.”
He went on to write.
“I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.”
CULTIVATE THE AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
The sense of God’s presence is not left to chance. At times God on his own, and for his purposes, directly, supernaturally intervenes in our lives. There are times when God reveals his presence to us when we are not seeking his presence but that is not the norm.
If we are going to know his presence, we need to develop disciplines that will foster a sense of his presence.
For example, there needs to be a conscious seeking of God’s presence during church services. Attending church is not participating in a ritual; it’s encountering the presence of God. Sit where you won’t be distracted. Participate in singing and worship. Give some physical expression of praise. Be attentive to the preaching. Engage your thinking. Absorb the Bible. Take notes.
Establish personal disciplines that foster an awareness of God’s presence. Have a regular, personal quiet time for personal prayer and Bible reading. Listen to uplifting praise and worship music.
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