In His Presence
John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” (NLT).
We cannot live this Christian life the way God intended us to unless we make the time to abide in the presence of God. We know what it is to read our Bibles. We know what it is to pray through lists. We know what it is to take action steps in outreach, and ministry, and obedience… but do we know what it is to abide in God?
Do we know what it is to sit in the stillness of His presence as a child curls up in the arms of its Parent? Do we know what true intimacy with God is? Do we know the affect that deep, vibrant, genuine, intimate relationship with God can have on our lives?
God sent His Son to die an excruciating death as a payment for our sins for one grand purpose: So that we could be with Him. Colossians 1:22 says, “Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” (NLT).
Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice for us because of the joy set before Him (Isaiah 53), and that joy was the ability for us to be allowed back into the presence of our righteous, loving Heavenly Father.
More than Bible reading, more than prayer lists, more than outreach and ministry, God wants us to BE with Him in deep, genuine, personal relationship with Him. Those things are good, but they come after—not before—abiding with God. John 15:4 tells us that unless we abide in God all our actions are useless. We can do nothing apart from the presence of God.
Join me in meditating on the presence of God through the following verses. In His presence:
We find ultimate joy and deep, ecstatic pleasure. Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (NLT).
We discover God’s will for our lives. Isaiah 30:20-21, “...Your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left” (ESV).
We fall in love with God. Psalm 63:1-3 “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” (NLT).
We find the satisfaction we crave. Psalm 63:5, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy” (NLT).
We receive victory. Psalm 62:1-2, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken” (NLT).
We find protection. Psalm 18:2, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (ESV).
We find freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17, “For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (NLT).
We find true rest. Exodus 33:14, “The LORD replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest'" (NIV).
We find comfort. Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (NLT).
We find healing. Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (NIV).
We find a confidant and companion. Psalm 27:8, “My heart has heard you say, 'Come and talk with me.' And my heart responds, 'LORD, I am coming' (NLT).
We find relief from our grief and burdens. Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us” (ESV).
We find refreshment for our souls. Acts 3:19-20, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord…” (NLT).
Question: Does the idea of sitting still in God’s presence and being with Him make you uncomfortable? Does it seem audacious or ever sacrilegious? The enemy loves to use religious ideas to keep us from experiencing an intimate relationship with God. But because of Colossians 1:22 and Hebrews 4:16 (and many more) we know that because of Christ we can boldly go into God’s presence and pour out to Him everything that is in our hearts. We can be intimate with Him. We can experience a Father / child relationship with Him.