The Power of God's Presence

Guest Post by Estella Achinko Have you ever stopped to wonder what it actually means to be in the presence of God? We hear the phrase all the time-whether it's catching a snippet of a worship song on the radio, listening to our friends and family talk about a powerful quiet time, or hearing pastors and ministers preach about it from the stage. It gets tossed around a lot in Christian circles.

It’s easy to feel like experiencing God’s presence is reserved for mountaintop spiritual highs. But the truth is, building a personal relationship with God or practicing the presence of God is different from just being a church attendee on Sundays or even weekdays. There’s more to it, and it's in the time we make to spend with him.

Practicing the presence means giving God, our Creator, our undivided attention. Several examples in the Bible have helped me understand the dimensions of being in God’s presence and what it means. Let’s take, for example, Moses.

Moses had one of the best experiences of being in God's presence. As we read through Exodus, we see Moses constantly go up the mountain to meet God because he needed direction to guide and liberate the Israelites.

This was a life-changing encounter because no other prophet had this experience as Moses did. Moses's flaw as a stammerer didn’t matter to God, as he was willing to take on the great commission to liberate God’s people, the Israelites, from bondage. His faithfulness and obedience in God’s presence led God to reveal his glory to him. When Moses said in Exodus Chapter 33: 19- 20, “Now show me your glory”, and “And the Lord replied, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live…” The description of God’s Glory carries intense intimacy, showing how He honors us when we honor Him. This reminds me again of the man called Zacchaeus, and how the attention he showed Jesus Christ, the Son of God, caused him to be honored despite being judged as a tax collector for his deeds (Luke 19:1-6). The story of Zacchaeus teaches that God doesn’t pressure us to give him attention, but if we honor him, He is willing to reciprocate and acknowledge our presence, no matter who we are or where we come from. Because, like he says in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. God yearns for our attention. God yearns for us to be in His presence. Ezekiel 22:30-31: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. God yearns to use us for His service and His glory, but are we willing to be that woman He’s called? You know, when we talk about the power of God’s presence, it’s the transformation, the glory, and the reflection of how well you’ve rested and dwelt. Dwelling, or I will say being in God's presence, goes beyond what we can get and the things we wish to perform from it. It’s relationship building. And if we can take hold of this precious gift, then our life will definitely reflect Him. In whatever we do or say, or how we operate character-wise. That’s the power of God's presence, sisters.

I can tell you that in my journey and relationship with God, I am constantly rejuvenated in His presence, and He has never failed to reveal things to me, direct me, and put my heart at rest in perfect peace when things seem to be falling apart.

Being, practicing, and remaining in God's presence means surrendering your all to Him. Being in His presence means building a connection with God Almighty through worship, fellowship, and service. Being in His presence is communion, creating time for an encounter through meditation, dedication, and prayer. It is telling God Lead me and guide me in this journey of faith, because on my own I am helpless. And absolutely, ladies, we can’t do it on our own strength. Believe this. You just have to surrender to a higher source and strength.

Practicing the presence should be part of our existence because, as his creatures, the time we give him is a sacrifice, allowing him to count us worthy, as he did with Moses and Zacchaeus, who asked. To them who knocked, it was given, and the door was opened wide. By seeking, they found purpose, and favor walked beside. Even more so a privilege, as his word continues to assure us in Jeremiah 29:12-14a MSG.

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.”

Then he will exalt his name and his word above all things, as captured in Psalms 138:2.

I pray this message will encourage you today, woman reading this, to stay in God’s presence and experience its power. Because it’s what you won’t want to miss for anything. That place is more than everything.

Our Guest's Bio

Estella Achinko, a passionate writer, speaker, scholar, and talk show host, often shares how deeply fulfilled she is by her lifelong journey of faith. Connect with her @Seasonedwriter to stay updated on her latest content.