This young man’s journey of living In God’s presence started off on a cold January day in the mid-70s. This young man’s life was in tatters, filled with days of pointlessness and nights of debauchery. And on this cold, foggy January day, he found himself without any weed, beer, or cigarettes. So he changed his plan and headed to his dad’s house in Oceanside, CA, where he knew he would find cigarettes on the coffee table and beers in the refrigerator.
However, this night would end up wildly different than anything he ever imagined. To his complete surprise and utter delight, he would find himself living in God’s presence.
His journey started as normal, heading up the street to go over to get to the Interstate. But as he was coming to an intersection, he experienced a barrage of questions filling his mind. Questions like: who was Jesus? What did He say? And why do people make such a big deal about Him?
He felt compelled to find out
He found himself compelled to get these questions answered, and so he turned and left at the intersection instead of going straight to his dad’s house.
As he drove south on the Coast Highway, he began to experience a brand new sensation, one he had never experienced in his life.
First off, he began to weep and cry. He was a tough, beach rat surfer dude, and you didn’t cry if you were part of this crowd.
Second, he began to experience a very unusual sensation. He felt like he was going home – but he didn’t actually know what that meant. You see, he was from a broken home, having seen his parents divorced when he was only 5 years old and moved back and forth between his mom and dad over many years.
It’s like coming home
What he didn’t realize at that moment, but now knows very well, was that he was experiencing what it means to live in God’s presence. As he looks back at this experience later on in his life, he realizes that his flesh was experiencing the head-on collision with the warm, real, transparent light of being in God’s presence. And that sensation of feeling like he was coming home! That was the real-life demonstration of the prodigal son returning to the father. That’s the feeling Jesus was talking about in the parable.
All of us have this incredible opportunity to live our lives in God’s presence. He invites us into His presence from the moment we wake up till the time we lay our heads back down. Living in God’s presence is part of the normal Christian life!
It’s not hard to live in God’s presence. All he looks for is humble, yielded, hungry, and passionate souls to press into Him, to seek His face, to devote time to the relationship. He looks for those who know they need Him in their life. He is always ready, willing, and able to bring us in so that we might enjoy a life of laughter and joy and purpose in God’s presence.
The Scriptures make mention of this life In God’s Presence from Genesis to Revelation. It’s one of the principal goals of Scripture that we might be instructed and encouraged to live in God’s presence. Jesus himself demonstrated this throughout his life and ministry, always pointing his disciples and the crowds to the invitation of the Father to live in God’s presence.
Yield to His Presence
If you are hungry to live in God’s presence, here are a few scriptures that might help you get started:
- THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE: HOW TO GET IN GOD’S PRESENCE:
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. (Ps. 95:1-2 NKJV)
2. THE FEAR OF THE LORD INVITES HIS PRESENCE:
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. (Ps. 31:19-20 NKJV)
3. TRUTHFULNESS AND TRANSPARENCY – KEYS TO LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE:
He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence. (Ps. 101:7 NKJV)
4. CALLING OUT TO GOD, AND SEEKING HIS FACE = LIVING IN GOD’S PRESENCE
Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psa 27:7-8 NKJV)
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Also read: Do You Want To Learn How To Live From the Presence of God?
