Looking for the presence of God? Where can you find it?

Why is it so hard to believe that we are always in the presence of God when the bible clearly states, “The upright shall dwell in your Presence?” (Psalm 140:13)

We seem to be looking for a feeling, a spiritual feeling, that lets us know we are in Gods presence and yet the truth is, feelings or no feelings we are always in His presence. There are times when we go to church and the music is just right and immediately we feel that we are being ushered into the presence of the Lord. But what about those mornings when the sound system is acting up, the choir sounds a bit off key and the music seems too fast for your tired, still at home, in bed mind. What happens then when you feel nothing? You look around and you see maybe one or two key people with their eyes closed seeming to be in a whole other world. Somehow they have connected with God but you feel nothing.

Let me share with you how God reminded me one day that I am always in His presence. My daughter woke up and said she did not feel well,. I decided to keep her home from school. While I was on the phone taking care of a few morning calls that needed to be made, my daughter came into the kitchen. I asked her if she was all right. Suddenly, she proved how sick she really felt all over the kitchen floor. Needless to say, I threw the phone down while desperately trying to help my little one feel as comfortable as possible while she was releasing her stomach flu every where. Meanwhile my toddler was crying at the same time wondering why mommy was not attending to his needs. Eventually, I was able settle my daughter in bed. I then put on the famous Barney video that has entertained millions of children across the nation for my son. While I had a minute, I decided to call my husband to let him know our daughter had the flu. As soon as I reached him and started to tell him that our daughter had been sick but now was resting comfortably, I glanced from our living room into the bedroom only to see her once again releasing her sickness all over her sisters bed and the carpet. Again, I threw down the phone and ran to her and held her as she flopped around like a rag doll. She had never been this sick before and did not know how to handle what was happening. She was unable to speak, however, she looked at me with glazed eyes as if to say, “help me please.” Meanwhile Barney ended and my toddler once again was wondering why the world was not revolving around him at that very moment. Every time I rushed by him to get a mop, a bucket, a wash cloth or whatever else I needed, he would whine and hold his arms up to be held. Finally, I gave my daughter some medicine that helped her sleep for a bit. While she was sleeping I was cleaning, mopping and scrubbing every part of the house as quickly as possible. I decided to attempt one more phone call to a neighbor to see if they might have some seven-up to offer my daughter when she woke up. While dialing the number I glanced over to the living room to see my son with a long cardboard gift wrapping paper roll in his hand. He was swinging it back and forth and happened to tap one of our wedding glasses that was on top of the fireplace. It was like a movie running in slow motion as I leaped over buckets and mops and towels while yelling, Noooooooo! Instantly the wedding glass, the only gift we had received at our small wedding, came crashing down all around my son. I scooped him up and he started crying out of fear. I checked him over from head to toe and though glass was every where not one piece had touched my son. Without putting thought into it, I instantly raised my hands to God and started praising Him. I praised Him for my overly active son, I praised Him that though one wedding glass was broken, one remained. I praised Him for my sick daughter, I praised Him for all the cleaning up I had done and would still have to do that day. I realized at that very moment when only one wedding glass shattered and the other remained untouched, on the fire place mantel, that I am always in the presence of God. There was no music to usher in His sweet presence. There was no sermon, stirring up the emotions that would remind me how good God is. There were no feelings that could give me the holy goose bumps so I would know that the Spirit of God was there. There was complete chaos, sickness and exhaustion. It was my desperate for His presence in the midst of the mess, which caused me to acknowledge Him. And with that He showed me I was already in His presence.

If you long to be in God’s presence, but find yourself saying, “I don’t feel God right now” just begin to praise Him anyway. I guarantee He will show you that feelings or no feelings you are always in His presence.


***Article taken from A Breath of Inspiration...written by Monica Cane