How to Experience the Presence of God

Can we experience the presence of Almighty God on a daily basis? I believe Scripture is clear that we can, and in this article, I will provide four “steps” that will help us achieve this tremendous reality: be accepted; be aware; be active; and be alert. I do not claim that this list of steps is exhaustive. In fact, the majority of material in this article is merely meant to give the reader some foundational principles that will provide a starting point for further practical studies on living a life of dwelling in God’s presence.¹

Step 1: Be Accepted

Hebrews 10:19-22

¹⁹Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Mankind can only approach the majestic presence of the Almighty “by the blood of Jesus” shed during the redemptive work of Christ² on the cross.³ When we acknowledge our sinfulness and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior⁴, we appropriate His redemptive work for us⁵ , and we become recipients of the greatest opportunity humankind has had since the Garden of Eden: the opportunity to walk once again in the cool of the day with the God of the Universe.⁶

In Hebrews 10:19-22, we are encouraged to have “boldness” to enter the “Holiest” – the place of God’s manifest presence. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year, and then only after performing seven days of cleansing activities⁷ to ensure he was fully consecrated (as well as providing him some degree of certainty that he would come out alive!⁸)

Therefore, boldness was probably not part of their mindset. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, may have been bold when they offered “profane fire before the LORD”⁹ , but fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them.¹⁰

We however, because of the sacrificial work of Jesus on the cross as our “High Priest”, are encouraged to draw as near to God as the High Priests in the Old Testament did. Jesus’ death on the cross has consecrated believers to enter the holy place of God’s presence with “full assurance” that we are acceptable to the Almighty.

It was in the “Holiest” Place where the priests saw the shekinah¹¹ glory of God over the Mercy Seat. We may never see God's presence in such a vivid demonstration. Yet figuratively, He is inviting us into the very same place where we can stand in awe of His glorious presence. Let us not forsake the invitation that God has given us in Hebrews 10 to “draw near.” What an awesome privilege to be invited to enter into the very presence of Almighty God, because of Christ’s work!

¹ E.g., see Psalm 91

² John 14:6

³ Romans 3:24-26

⁴ Romans 10:9-10

⁵ John 3:16-18

⁶ See Genesis 3:8. This appears to imply that Adam and Eve had face-to-face fellowship with the Creator.

⁷ Leviticus 8:33-34

⁸ See Leviticus 10:6,9;16:2,13

⁹ Leviticus 10:1

¹⁰ Leviticus 10:2-3

¹¹ Hebrew, "the one who dwells" or "that which dwells," usually represented in the Old Testament as a cloud in which God was present.