10 ways to experience more of the presence of God in your life

"And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." Mark 15:38

When Jesus died, the veil in the temple was torn asunder.

This event was cosmic. The veil separated the holy place from the holy of holies – the place where only one priest could go once a year to plead with God for the people.

Because the veil in the temple was torn in two, every single follower of Jesus now can have access. We can all approach God. We can now live in the manifest presence of God. Everything we do can be glorious, meaningful, sanctified, God-saturated, and God-blessed.

Yet we too often fail to experience this reality, this opportunity.

In a recent staff devotional, our women's director, Leigh-Ann Brisbin, brought our attention to A.W Tozer’s words: “Why do some persons 'find' God in a way that others do not? Why does God manifest His Presence to some and let multitudes of others struggle along in the half-light of imperfect Christian experience? Of course the will of God is the same for all. He has no favorites within His household. All He has ever done for any of His children He will do for all of His children. The difference lies not with God but with us.” 

Leigh-Ann led us to explore Jesus words in the Upper Room Discourse to answer the question, “How do we live in and with the manifest presence of God?” Jesus tells us how in John 14.

Love. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Keep. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Receive. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” John 14:16

Know. “… even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17

See. “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19

Hear. “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.” John 14:24

Learn. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26

Fear not. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

Rejoice. “You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” John 14:28

Believe. “And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.” John 14:29

In the Pursuit of God A.W. Tozer writes, “You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him… Let us say it again: The Universal Presence is a fact. God is here. The whole universe is alive with His life. And He is no strange or foreign God, but the familiar Father of our Lord Jesus Christ whose love has for these thousands of years enfolded the sinful race of men. And always He is trying to get our attention, to reveal Himself to us, to communicate with us. We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures. We will know Him in increasing degree as our receptivity becomes more perfect by faith and love and practice.” 

So, which of these 10 practices listed above is a strength for you?

Which of these do you need to attend to the most?

What is one thing you can ask Jesus for grace to do that will make the biggest difference in your ability to experience the manifest presence of God?

Lord, help us be aware of Your presence more and more. Help us to press into Your presence. Let the experience of Your glorious presence be the most important thing in our lives. Let us walk into Your presence – into the Holy of Holies – with confidence, faith, hope, love, and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.