Do You Long for God’s Presence?
There’s an old worship song we used to sing that’s been in my head for a couple of days. I was reading Psalm 84, and the words began to flow from my lips.
“I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence…”
When it comes right down to it, there’s no place I’d rather be than in His presence. We know that God is everywhere and there’s nowhere we can go to flee from His presence.
“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, NIV
Do You Long for God’s Presence?
But are we always dwelling there? I know I’m not–not in my mind, my heart, my attention. I know that I can accomplish nothing apart from Him, so I need more of Jesus in my life.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
So, how do we dwell in God’s presence and abide in Him so that we can bear fruit on a daily basis?
For me, I have to spend time in His presence in worship.
My daily quiet time always consists of prayer, Bible study, and journaling. But I need more time at His feet, singing His praises, and focusing on the beauty of His presence. What I really need is more of Him and less of me.
Worship is what will draw my heart to the throne of God faster than anything else. Worship will keep a song in my heart throughout the day so that I depend more on God and less on myself. Worship recalibrates my attention to the majesty and power and truth and grace of my God.
I want more of the power and presence of God in my life.
In Psalm 84, the writer is longing for the presence of God.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.”
Psalm 84:1-2
Does your soul yearn so much to be in God’s presence that you feel as if you will faint without Him? Sometimes I go and do so much in my own strength, that I KNOW I will utterly faint if I don’t let go and let Him have it all.
Is it time for you to let go in His presence and let Him have your struggles, your questions, your strength?
“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young–a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.”
Psalm 84:3
Is that not beautiful? I can just picture Korah (the psalm writer) looking up and seeing the tiny birds building a nest under the eaves of the temple columns. In his day, God’s presence dwelt only there in the Holy of Holies. And even the birds wanted to be there.
Are we building our nests in the presence of God and raising our young there?
I want more of the power and presence of God in my home.
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”
Psalm 84:4
That’s where I want to be: dwelling in the presence of God, ever praising Him. And the only way that will happen is if I start my day in the throne room with God–not just reading a devotion or praying a prayer, but seeking the face of God and surrendering my heart to Him in worship.
It’s time to go to the throne room of God and seek His face. The wonderful news is that we have been invited in. What was mysterious and holy and off-limits to everyone but the high priest in Korah’s day has now been opened to us through the blood of Jesus! We have access through our Savior into the holy and mysterious but no longer off-limits presence of God.
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with sincere heart in full assurance of faith.”
Hebrews 10:19-22a
Do you desire to have more of the power and presence in your life as I do?
Let’s ask Him by faith for more.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, them though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:7-11
Father, we long for Your presence. We acknowledge our dependence upon You. We bow our knees and surrender our hearts to You in worship. We humbly ask You to come now and show us Your glory. Teach us how to work and move in Your presence, walk in Your Spirit, and operate in Your power. We need more of You, Lord. We want to be where You are and dwell every minute of every day in Your sweet, holy presence.
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