Do we Seek His Presence?

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD among the trees of the garden" (Genesis 3:8)

If anyone ever told us that we had at one time or another hidden ourselves from the presence of God, our first reaction would most likely be one of shock and denial. Surely we haven't ever been guilty of separating ourselves from His presence! No way!

Why on earth would we not want to be in His presence at any given chance? Certainly we wouldn't hide from Him on purpose. Would we?

Truthfully, we have all at one time or another, hidden ourselves from the very presence of our God whether we realized it at the time or not.

Have you ever been in church and started daydreaming just a bit while the pastor was preaching?

Have you ever spent too much time watching the clock rather than listening to the Word of God be preached?

Have you ever just not joined in the singing during praise and worship because you just didn't feel like singing that day?

Have you ever been in worship and when the words to the song you were singing stirred your heart to the point that you felt the urge to lift your hands high to the Lord and truly worship but you didn't because you were embarrassed?

Have you ever neglected to read your bible for one reason or another?

Have your ever been asked to accept a position of leadership in your church and declined because you didn't feel "led" or just didn't have the time?

When we have been guilty of any of these instances, we have in essence hidden ourselves from the awesome, mighty, powerful presence of God.

If we neglect to spend time in the Word of God - we are hiding from God's presence.

When we don't serve the Lord with our whole heart as well as with a willing heart, we are hiding from God's presence.

We have to be continually equipping our minds and enriching our lives with knowledge of Him.

We need to be purposefully pursuing a passionate, real, intimate relationship with Christ.

We need to be desperately seeking His Presence.

We need to be actively searching for God.

We need to be consumed with everything about Him.

We need to be hungry for the bread, thirsty for the living water, craving the very manifestation of the Presence of God.

He is breath - He is life - He is God.

Seek His presence.

Precious Father, forgive me for the times when I have neglected to truly seek your presence. Forgive me for putting other things first. Forgive me for not always being obedient to the Truth of your Word. Help me to always remember that you are the most important thing in my life. Help me to pursue you with a passion and hunger so strong that nothing else will stand in my way. I love you with all my heart. I love you with all that consumes me. I praise you for your mercy and the grace you have shown me. And I thank you for your mighty and powerful presence in my life. I am desperate for You.

He is Here

Have you ever had a church service where the presence of God just abounds? We experienced that on Sunday (yes, I know that I am the Preacher's wife, but it's true..) The presence of God just filled the sanctuary and you could feel Him everywhere! You could not only feel Him and sense His presence, but you could hear it. Sweet voices giving praise to our God. Sweet voices that sounded so angelic. Voices that were sincere. Voices filled with worship. Voices that cried out to Jesus.

"Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place.
I can feel His mighty power and His grace.
I can hear the brush of angel wings, I see Glory on each face.
Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place."

When we totally surrender ourselves over to worship, God will show up in a mighty way. He desires to be right in the midst of our praise. There is nothing like the feeling of having God's presence wrap itself around you like a warm blanket. It envelopes our being and the warmth floods our souls. You can feel it on your skin like a chill in the air. You can feel the presence pressing down on your head. You close your eyes and are transported to another place. A place where holiness abounds. A place where nothing matters except Christ. A place where you are communing one on one with the Savior. A place of peace.

If you have ever experienced this, it's something you desire to feel again and again. You never want the sweet fellowship to end. Can you imagine what Heaven is going to be like? Continual worship. Continual fellowship. Continual presence of God. Continual Glory. Face down. At His feet. Praising.

"And every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Revelation 5:13 (NKJV)

Loving my Jesus,
Beth