Bethany and I recently attended a conference at Morningstar Ministries in Fort Mill, South Carolina called Worship & Warfare. Morningstar is one of my favorite places to go. Not only are the teaching & worship times incredible, but everywhere you turn people are praying & ministering to each other. It’s an atmosphere that is spiritually electric.
The conference was 3 days long with the majority of the sessions dedicated to extended times of worship. It was wonderful to be with so many people who were passionately pressing into God. I had many wonderful moments in God’s Presence during the main sessions, but nothing like what happened in a lounge area in between sessions.
Bethany was taking a nap before dinner and I decided to find a comfy place to read and relax. I sat down at a high table with a Dr. Pepper and a new book and started reading. After just a few minutes, all of the sudden I was overwhelmed by God’s Presence. It’s nearly impossible to describe, but the weight of His Presence completely overtook me to the point where I dropped my book on the table, unable to move or think, let alone read.
After a couple minutes I started asking God if He had something to tell me or something He wanted to show me. There’s always the possibility that I could have missed it, but I didn’t feel like God had something specific in mind. It was like God entered the room just to say, “Hi, I’m here.”
The Presence of God is an interesting thing to think about. In one sense we know that God is everywhere all the time. But at the same time we read all throughout Scripture of certain places & times when God’s Presence is manifested in different ways; like Mount Sinai, the Burning Bush, the Ark of the Covenant, the Pillar of Fire, etc…
Psalm 89:15 says:
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
The experience I had with God in the lounge was wonderful and I am so grateful that God would suddenly enter into my awareness in a special way, even when I wasn’t prepared for it. I hope to experience those moments more and more. But just like the Psalmist says, I want to learn to live my whole life not only in awareness, but in pursuit of God’s Presence.
When Israel was wandering in the desert, Exodus 13:21 says:
By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
God answered Moses’ prayer in Exodus 33 when he prayed: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
The only way the Israelites knew when and where to move was when God’s Presence moved. They didn’t follow their own plans; they followed His Presence. That’s where I want to be, but I’m not there yet. Too often I find myself on auto-pilot; going through my day, unaware that I’m “seated with Christ in the Heavenlies”. I often think, say or do things that I wouldn’t have if I had remembered that I’m in the Presence of the King.
Elizabeth Browning once said: “Earth is crammed with heaven. Every bush is aflame with the fire of God, but only those who see take off their shoes. The rest just pick the berries.”
I pray that as I grow, I can walk closer to the light of His Presence. Not only do I want to be ready for God’s Presence to enter into my awareness, I want to learn to come to Him, where He’s at, and say, “Hi, I’m here.”
On a personal note, I’m in the middle of a major transition in my life. Please visit my Red Sea blog to stay up to date.
Feel free to leave a comment below to start some conversations
Adam and Eve walked with Him in the garden. We walk with Him unaware but He is there every moment of our lives. How wonderful to have that awareness of His presence if only for a moment. Please continue writing Amazed after your transiton. Thanks.
i feel Gods presence somtimes when im writing music. i get stumped looking for a lyric. and then ita just like Hes takes my mind and gives me the lyric and helps me write it down. one time i had a lyric in mind and started to write it down but when i looked at the paper it wasnt like i thought. it was better. so it was like God took my hand and wrote it the way it should have been. i feel warm inside when i can feel Him here.
I know exactly what you are talking about. There was a night a church a few months back where I felt God stand beside me as we sang worship songs to him. I was overwhelmed by His presence. I thought to myself. “Why stand beside me Lord? I am so undeserving.” His reply…”Because I love you and made you and I love you worshiping me.”