When King David wrote, “Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:7), he already knew the answer.
Nowhere. Because God is everywhere. He is omnipresent, meaning He is present everywhere at the same time.
Mind. Boggling.
Seriously, if this were God’s one and only attribute, it would be reason enough to worship Him. As Jodi shared with me on Facebook, “Everything begins and ends with Him.” Yes, it does, sister. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).
The Hebrew word paneh, often translated “presence,” literally means “face, before.” That’s why we’re assured, “He is before all things” (Colossians 1:17), such that His face is always before us.
Because of His presence, Bonnie has “never felt alone, abandoned, or unloved.” Bobbie is grateful that “I never need to make an appointment to talk with Him.” And Patty Sue celebrates this truth: “His presence is ever abiding!”
I love Cherise’s words: “He is everywhere I need Him to be, which is everywhere.” Yes.
In ancient days, people carried miniature idols, so their gods could travel with them. Our God? He carries us.
He is carrying you right now. He is with you.
Even if you cannot see Him with your eyes, touch Him with your hands, or experience Him through your emotions, you can be sure He is in your presence—and you are in His—at this very moment.
Cathey says, “It’s so comforting to know that God is with me every second of every day.” Lois agrees, “I love how God is so personal with each of us, individually. It amazes me that He can be all to all.” Really, how is that possible? Only with God.
His presence is supernatural, beyond this world.
His presence is personal, intimate, knowing.
His presence is continual, proof of His power.
If He were not a God of love, His presence would be frightening. No, terrifying! But because He loves those who are His, His presence calms our fears and eases our anxiety and puts our worries to rest.
For your Lizzie? I’m aware of His presence most when I’m filled with joy. It’s the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and the promise of His Word: “you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11).
Any time a sense of joy washes over me and I find myself smiling out of sheer delight, that’s when I know that I know that I know.
He is here.
When have you been aware of God’s presence? Please share your thoughts below. You words will surely bless each one of us!
Your grateful sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs
in my quiet time with the Lord there are times His presence is undeniable..Praise God Praise God….
Early in my walk with the Lord, I read “The Practice of the Presence of God” and this year He led me to re-read it…I am aware of His presence ALL THE TIME – to know that whenever my thoughts turn towards Him during the day, He is already there, expectantly waiting for me, sometimes drawing me – always right there with me…that is powerful
I agree…in the quiet stillness of my mornings with Him I can feel His love, His strength and His arms around me. It lifts me to a place of uninterrupted joy♥
His Love is always shining on us all
Simply be
Feel
Touch
and Believe in Love
When I had worried myself into a tizzy about when can I quit work? When will my kids behave? When wil. My marriage be stronger? When? When? When? And as I rocked my baby girl, fretting and questioning, I HEARD God say, “Wait.” And I was filled with peace knowing He heard me and was working everything out in the most perfect way possible! He loves me!
I’m aware of His presence when I worship. When my hands are raised in praise to Him. Then He instills joy within me and it surrounds my heart so completely that it’s inexplainable. I know it can only be Him. Only He does that to me. Like right now. *huge sigh*
Thank you Liz for the perfect words at the perfect time. I’m going through a terrible heartbreak right now and sometimes question where he is when I am in the eye of the storm or lying in the pit. This is a reminder that he is ALWAYS with me and that even though things look hopeless, he will help me through. God bless you for the encouragement you give to those of us who are lost.
I am aware of God’s presence in all of His creation and this helps my focus stay fixed most of the time. I love being out and about with my camera and feel so connected with my Heavenly Daddy as I look at the world and the people He has created. Then comes the unexpected twists and turns of life that effect those I love and care about, effect my health or plans, cause me to wonder about the future and how will we survive. As I have aged and grown to know God’s heart better and experience His love for me and mine and spent more time in His Word, I come full circle more quickly than in years passed and I am reminded by the Holy Spirit to fix my spirit on Him and thank Him that I/we do not face anything alone. He is always with me and for me. And He will always be on His Throne no matter how many times the enemy tries to deceive me or replace him with a false god.
Right now a loved one is beginning a huge battle with cancer and the outcome is unknown. I can’t imagine what he will have to endure in the process and my heart aches for him. Early after we learned of this I thanked God that this loved one is not alone in the battle and we are not alone as we come along side him with faith and prayer and aid as we are led to minister to him in his hour of need. Just to acknowledge that brought strength to think of the future and comfort to believe this too shall pass and we will see God all in it.
Thank you, Liz, for reminding us that even though the battles rage, the war has been won, and God is with us, always and forever.
I have my quiet time our sunroom. when I am in prayer I feel the sun getting warmer and warmer shining on me. It is beyond the normal feeling of the sunlight. When this happens I know in my spirit that it is God’s love that I am feeling
Sitting in choir at church, we were singing “Be thou my vision,” and I felt the most overwhleming sense of God’s presence. It was all I could do to keep from crying/laughing. But that hymn touches me so very deeply. I felt such unbelievable peace. I’ve even felt His presence standing at my kitchen sink doing dishes, looking out the window at all that He has created. And I know…just know it’s Him, our Lord.
Just yesterday, I stepped out of the salon after having a permanent and the parking lot was sheer ice, smooth as glass, and slightly wet on top. I stepped out to get to my car and started sliding and had no way to stop. I know God kept me in an upright position because at 71, I probably would have broken something had I gone down with my hands full and unable to stop. God is good!
I am aware of God in Worship service – the words – the pictures on the screen – the sounds of others praising His name – the memories of always being able to worship Him without fear of anything.
Every AM, the minute I open my eyes, I am aware of His greatness, goodness, kindness, and everlasting love. I know that whatever I will face that day, he is with me and he is not silent. The still small voice whispers throughout every minute. The problem arises when I refuse to listen..and oh, sisters, that is when my mistakes take place. Covering the day in prayer, and continuing throughout the day to pray when difficulties rise, is the only way I know to hear, really hear, his whispers.
I am constantly reminded of his presence by His glorious creations, by that small voice that helps me answer my son’s questions, by the peace I have when my husband is worried about something.
I feel God’s presence during moments of need when I hear Him say “Be still and know that I am God”. What comfort those words bring to me.
Reading your text this morning Liz, I could feel His presence. Opening my Bible to Isaiah 6:3, I could feel His presence. Reading the comments from others, I could feel His presence. It fills me with joy, peace and comfort and I am so blessed!
I feel God’s presence often in my life, but the time when I felt His presence wash over me in an almost physical way was when I was fighting cancer in 2011. He was so present and comforting. He didn’t assure me I would survive, but He did assure me that everything would be OK with those I loved if He did take me to heaven. There were a couple of times (when I needed it so much) that His presence washed over me almost like I was standing in the rain.
Liz Thank you.
I love the words Joy, Love, wash and emotion. When I am with ladies from my home church in study or in Worship service. God washes over me, Oh how wonderful his presences. Gods Joy and Love is so abundt that I have an excitement of emotion that is unexplainable. I remember the time I fully surrended to the Lord as a Teenager . Jesus filled me with compassion and humility from his Holy Spirit. Later in life the Lord filled me with a different emotion; I ask forgivness and renewal. What Awesome day that was.
Emotion, so many missunderstand this. Jesus showed me that feeling emotional when he touches us is normal. John 11:35 “Jesus wept” Peter also “wept” after the cock crowed MK 14:72. The Lord Jesus touches us all in different ways as he made us different but, in His own image. I am another person in your devotion “Ministry of Tears” .
Recently I was thinking about something that was stressing me and a Bible verse popped into my mind. What a neat blessing!
I feel the Lord’s presence daily, during my devotions and prayer times, during my mountain top experiences and in my valleys, especially when I’m feeling like the world is too much to handle and nothing seems to be going right…….when I cry out to my Lord…..the overwhelming warmth and peace He gives me, I feel as though he’s wrapped his arms around me and speaks to me saying “I’ve got this,” “I have you.” I can hardly explain it, but He is with me. I can’t praise him enough.
When I open my Bible, get out my prayer journal, wrap my hands around a cup of hot tea, and listen to the quiet, I am aware of God’s presence. The trick for me is REMAINING aware of his presence when the phone rings or one of my kids needs something and my perfect solitude is interrupted. He’s always there, and I need to be present to His omnipresence.
I am overwhelmed by His presence so often, but just today, feeling sort of down, needing to get to some housework but not really moving in that direction, I felt His Spirit say to my spirit….”Put on some praise music….it will do wonders for your attitude”, and after a short time listening, I was singing and praising and working right along. He always knows just what I need and I am so thankful to Him!
I know God is with me. Five long years we prayed for a kidney for my husband and then, we got the call. It was a perfect match and everything was a go. Then there were surgery delays. First the weather, then an emergency pulled the team off schedule, then my husband begin running a fever just hours before the reschedule. I was exhausted. I turned it over to God. For the first time, I really turned it all over to God. A peace came over me and I slept soundly for a couple hours at the hospital. When I awoke, the fever was gone, the surgeons were awake and ready and my husband was being prepped for surgery. That was 13 days ago and now my husband is home with a new kidney and a new life! God gave us a living miracle and had been walking with us all along. He listens. He gives us healing and strength. Praise God forever!
I haven’t really put a feeling or emotion to when I feel His Presence, but I think it is joy…and so much more! When I feel Him near it is with a special ‘knowing’ in my spirit. Sometimes I’m worshipping Him or listening to a worship song. Sometimes I feel His Presence when He shows me a scripture that hits to the heart. And sometimes I feel Him when He shows me a devotional that is just what my small group has been studying that week – He lets me know He is always right in the middle of what I am studying, thinking about or reading.
Yes, He is always near.
This was awesome Liz!
Thanks!
I had a very unusual God moment a few months back and it was spine chillingly awesome… and I am not usually the dramatic sort but this was out of the ordinary for sure!
I was having a dark day and just felt gloomy and pushed down even physically my head was hanging low and I felt like I couldn’t “bounce back” and I went into the restroom stall and just said a simple “God help me” and all of a sudden I heard Him whisper that I was under attack and that only He could help me. Then my head rose up physically and my shoulders rounded out and it was like a light shone in the corner of the stall and an “Ahhhh” resounded in my mind.
It was beyond cool AND a bit overwhelming but so very real.
I had never had an experience like that before or since but it was a lasting impression of Who I needed to fight my battles for me!
Hey Liz! I feel God’s near and know He is close by. He calms my storms and overwhelms me with joy! Sometimes He laughs with me and He lets me know I belong to Him. His presence is awesome.
22 years ago our oldest son died in a water accident. I’ll never forget the call from my husband to tell me they were in the ER trying to save him! I immediately dropped to my knees to pray God would save his life, but I felt God’s hand on my shoulder and His voice in my ear saying “, Honey, he is already here with me, stop bargaining with me. I promise I will not leave you and we will walk this hard journey together!” And we did! The comfort, peace and strength he promises in His Word became real to me, not just a Sunday School lesson! I could truly say like Job, “my ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You”!
I have at times felt as if God was sitting right beside me it was so that I could feel the presence so strong and I felt so peaceful,happy ,calm,loved and never wanting that feeling to go and leave.There isn’t no way I can really explain,except I could live that everyday every minute.I love Him so,with all my life!
Lately I’ve actually felt Him most when I’m heartbroken. I’m involved in a lot of animal rescues and while most of the time it is a joy to help these wonderful organizations, it does open my eyes to a lot of the world’s darkness and tragedy. At first I really struggled with it, and became angry and cynical and *tired*, but then out of nowhere I felt God telling me, clearly, to give my heartbreak to Him. He doesn’t tell me why suffering happens and why sometimes we don’t get happy endings, but I am now 100% assured that He is WITH me, grieving with me and at the same time filling me with hope. I can’t even explain it, but I’ve never understood the peace of His presence like I do now.
My job is feeding middle schoolers. A few months ago I was washing apples at work; it was an ordinary duty on an ordinary day. Nothing special going on. Suddenly I was overwhelmed by a sense of joy like a hug for my soul. I can’t begin to describe the sweet delight of that moment but I knew it was the presence of God. He had blessed me in such a delightful way–for no reason, to my knowledge–just because He wanted to!
Several years our home, our son’s home and our 2 business’s were totally destroyed by a devastating tornado. As we walked through the rubble early that beautiful Easter morning I sat down in the middle of the debris digging through rubble trying to find something I could recognize, just something in one piece. I never ever doubted that God was with us. He knew why this had to happen and was in still in control. For some reason I kept looking at my watch. Finally when I looked at it at 9:30 am I remember thinking, Oh good! Now all our brothers and sisters at church have been made aware of our situation and are praying for us. The most incredible peace washed over me at that moment and and such joy filled my soul! I could feel His presence!
Thanking and praising God for YOU! 🙂 I showed the Women of Faith “Walk Chosen” video to a group at a women’s shelter recently. What a blessing!
My goodness I have been thanking God for you for days! And It just occurred to me to try and share this gratitude with you directly to encourage you, and I see that your blog is about praise to God!
Thank you God for Liz. Thank you for this incredible woman and gift to the Body of Christ!
I feel His presence most when the day is over, I turn off my light, close my bedroom door and shut out the world. I can feel Him watching over me and know that I can fall asleep without fear or anxiety. I have “cast all my cares on Him because He cares for me.”