By Tom Shanklin

Blessed‭ ‭be‭ the God‭ and‭ Father‭ of our‭ Lord‭ Jesus‭ Christ‭, who‭ has blessed‭‭ us‭ with‭ every‭ spiritual‭ blessing‭ in‭ the heavenly‭ ‭places‭ in‭ Christ‭,‭ (Ephesians 1:3, NKJV).

There is a place in God where we can receive every good thing which he has provided for us in Christ.

If our blessings are to be found in heavenly places, how many of us are looking at them from the outside rather than entering the place where we can receive them—heavenly places in Christ? In God’s presence, we can receive all that He is and all that He has.

Truly, God does make Himself known in real and tangible ways. The scripture says, ‭”You will show‭‭ me the path‭ of life‭; In Your presence‭ ‭is‭ fullness‭ of joy‭; At Your right hand‭ ‭are‭ pleasures‭ forevermore‭.”‭ (Psalms 16:11, NKJV). There is a pleasure for Christian believers in the presence of God that those who don’t know Him cannot experience.

The Scriptures have much more to say about the benefits of experiencing God’s presence. The Apostle John said in the book of Revelation, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day …” (Revelation 1:10, MEV). It was in that place, “in the Spirit,” that John received the visions and revelations that millions are still reading today.

If you want to overcome fleshly tendencies, learn to walk in the Spirit. The Apostle Paul talked about the benefit of walking in the Spirit, “… walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, MEV).

David’s number one priority was to live in God’s presence: “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that will I seek after, for me to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to see the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalms 27:4, MEV).

A survey of people who identified themselves as Christians indicated that 68% of them had felt God’s presence at some point in their lives.

When I think about the presence of God, I am reminded of times in my life when I experienced God’s presence in powerful ways. Like the time when I was nine years old, hearing the Gospel in a Baptist Church on an Easter Sunday morning and being drawn to go forward for an altar call. It seems the Holy Spirit always manifests Himself when the Gospel is proclaimed.

Another time was when I was 27, sitting in a pickup truck after having been baptized. I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Turn from the things of the world.” I was so awestruck that I lifted my hands and said, “Yes, Lord!” At that moment, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and felt God’s presence flowing all over me. I have never been the samesince that day.

There are many other times that I have experienced God’s presence in extraordinary ways, but I have also learned that I can choose to enter into God’s presence every day.

Jesus Made the Way

Jesus made a way for us to enter into the presence of God. We are welcomed in the very presence of God because all our sins are forgiven through Christ’s substitution on the cross.

We are exhorted in Hebrews to have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NKJV). The holiest is the place where God lives. It is the very presence of God. Because of what Jesus did, we have access to that place and can enjoy God’s presence every day. The whole design of God’s plan of salvation was to bring us back to the place where Adam lived in the garden of Eden, in the presence of God.

Adam lost his place in the presence of God through disobedience. We can return to the Lord through repentance and faith in the blood. Through repentance, we choose to return to the Lord. As Peter said in his sermon after the healing of the Lamb man at the gate beautiful, “Therefore repent and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” (Acts 3:19, MEV)

How to Get into the Presence of God

How do we get into the presence of God? As the scripture says, “You will show me the path of life …” (Psalm 16:11a NKJV). As we seek Him, God will show us through His Word how to come into His presence.

The way into God’s presence no doubt varies from one person to another, but there are some examples and principles in the Word of God that can guide us on the path.

Worship is one of the avenues that helps me to get into the presence of God, not only in church services but in my private devotional life. When I spend time worshiping God, loving God, and pulling away from natural things, I begin to enter into another place spiritually. I begin to experience the spiritual pleasure and joy that the psalmist spoke of.

The Scripture says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalms 100:4, NKJV). He is the awesome Creator and our source of everything. Let Him know how much you love Him. Let Him know how great He is in your life.

Paul taught us about getting in the Spirit: “Do not be drunk with wine, for that is reckless living. But be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19, MEV). How can you be “filled with the Spirit?” By singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

In Acts 13, we are told that the prophets and teachers from the church at Antioch “ministered to the Lord.” They no doubt ministered to the Lord with praise, worship, and thanksgiving. When they ministered to the Lord, the Holy Spirit spoke to them to send Paul and Barnabas to the nations with the Gospel. Sometimes I call this the prayer meeting that changed the world.

God also used music to help people to get in the presence of God in the Old Testament. Three kings were asking the prophet Elisha to give them the word of the Lord. It’s recorded that he said, “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.” (2 Kings 3:15, KJV). The word translated minstrel means to “strike the strings.” So the musician may or may not have sung, but we know for sure that he played an instrument, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit came on the prophet.

In those days, the stringed instrument was often a lyre or a small harp. Today, it might be a guitar or a piano. But whatever it is, if the one playing it is anointed by God, their music can help you come into the presence of God.

Praying in the Spirit

I would be remiss if I did not mention another way that God uses in my life and many others to bring us into the presence of the Lord. That is praying in the Spirit or praying in other languages by supernatural divine inspiration.

We are encouraged in the scriptures, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20, NKJV). Praying in the Spirit is God’s way to bring forth a manifestation of His presence along with all the benefits. We sense His anointing when we pray in a supernaturally inspired language.

Paul said, “I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all …” (1 Corinthians 14:18, MEV). If the Apostle Paul was not ashamed to let people know that he prayed in tongues, neither should we. I have no doubt that much of the spiritual revelation and authority that he walked in came as a result of his devotional life, which included much time praying in other languages.

Cultivating the Presence of God

I encourage you to cultivate the Lord’s presence, whether you are busy with natural things or not. Cultivate a quietness, an awareness of God. Most of us are hindered from experiencing the presence of God because we are way too busy in our minds and hearts and with our mouths.

Turn off the TV, put aside your phone, and find that place that works for you to get away with God. Discipline yourself to be quiet and cultivate an awareness of the reality of God’s presence in your daily life. As the scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God …” (Psalms 46:10, MEV).

I am praying that you will experience the presence of God, where you can receive all His blessings of joy, peace, strength, revelation, and more. May you experience the tangibility of His love and be able to share that love with many. Jesus paid the price so you could have these things in your life.

I would love to hear from you about your experiences in the presence of God and the way that you have found to get into His presence in your daily life.

God bless you!