Practicing the presence of God is simply this, remembering always that you are in His presence.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
The Lord Jesus Christ is today at the right hand of the Father, we are hid in Christ, ergo, we are in the presence of the Most High.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2nd Cor. 13:5)
Again, if you have been born-again, the Lord Jesus Christ is within you, the Holy Spirit is within you.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)
And so, in all reality, to practice being in the presence of God is simply to understand in faith that we are always in His presence.
How many of you find great comfort in these truths, and how many of you just experienced a sense of dread?
Perhaps it depends on the moment, what you are doing, what thoughts or imagination within your mind you are following. The reaction of, “I should not be doing this or thinking this” is what sets us apart from the wicked, it is how we are being sanctified, and it is how our minds are transformed.
What we are discussing here is the renewing of our minds in recognition of the truth that we are always in the presence of holiness.
“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1st Peter 1:16)
Many people will alter their character traits, their lives in fact, because of the wrong reason when this truth is realized, they change themselves because of fear. They do not want to face punishment, His anger, His condemnation, and by this very act they show themselves questionable in their claim of salvation.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1)
Others believe this grace they presume themselves to stand in can be used as an advantage, or as an excuse to sin, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Works-based religious cults prey on both of those groups, and quite effectively I might add. Causing fear is an exceptionally good motivator towards obedience, these cults use it as well as nearly every aspect of society.
How many people behave differently when their employer is in their midst, when the priest comes to visit, when they meet the pastor downtown? Nearly all of them.
How concerned you are about a relationship with someone will be revealed to you in how much you modify who you are in front of them.
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” (Psalm 139:8)
You can’t fool Him, you know that, right? You cannot pretend to love the Lord Jesus Christ and think He doesn’t realize that. There is no reason to try to trick Him, coerce Him, get Him to change His mind, or try to hide anything whatsoever from Him.
So then, fear or comfort my friends, which resides within you?
I gave up a long time ago trying to get the Almighty to see things my way, and I was one of those hard cases who wasn’t about to give up trying.
He knows us infinitely better than we will ever know ourselves, and that is a good thing, if you are willing to be transformed, if you are willing to be made into the image of His Son.
Practicing, and that is exactly what it is, continually practicing, to be in the presence of God must begin with the realization of this unmitigated truth, we are always in His presence if we are hid in Christ. From there, the decision must be yours, how much do you want to be transformed? How much are you willing to give up, and how much are you willing to accept?
It’s up to you.
Fear or comfort?
