
One of the scriptures that has had a powerful impact in my family is Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the way of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore”. Presence has to do with the essence of being, or being present in a place or thing. I love spending time with my wife and daughters. Each of them emanates an essence of who God created them to be and therein enrich who God created me to be and vise versa.
Likewise, time spent with brothers and sisters in Christ touches the eternity that we each carry for God’s kingdom. There is an aroma of the anointing that is released like perfume when we spend time together with one another. In Luke 1:41, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby Elizabeth carried leaped in her womb, and the Bible records that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a good explanation of the release of anointing we experience in the presence of fellow believers. For us today, the baby Elizabeth carried in Luke 1:41 can be synonymous to vision and purpose each believer carries.
If such power emanates from followers of Christ when together, imagine the gigantic power that radiates and rest on us when we spend time in the presence of our Almighty God! This is why Psalm 16:11 is dear to my heart. Just like spending time with family and friends, spending time with God requires deliberate intention and action. The presence of God is the omnipotent ability of God. This presence of God is progressive; meaning we can cultivate and grow living in God’s presence. It means a daily dying to self and being alive to the spirit of God that lives in us.
It takes learning in the school of the Holy Spirit to experience the consistent presence of God. This is what places God’s super on our natural and we are able to do things with ease that we would not have been able to do without His presence.
As a journalist, my oldest daughter is an expert of words. In fact she helps review some of my writings. I was asking her recently about prepositions. She explained that though prepositions are short, they are potent words that connect various parts of a sentence and conveys relationship. There are three potent prepositions that relate the importance of God’s presence.
First, God is with you: This preposition assures you that God’s omnipotent ability is actively involved in your life. Together, you and God are invincible. This is basis for overflowing joy.
Secondly, God is in you: This preposition assures you that God’s omnipotent ability is within the core of your being. At this point of living, you can completely trust God as He guides and leads you. This is basis for a restful outlook on life no matter what is happening.
Lastly, God is for you: This preposition assures you that God’s omnipotent ability is determined to be in your best interest. This understanding gives you confidence in the will and heart of God. This is basis for boldness in your walk with God.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the world waits for the manifestation of God’s presence in us as Christ’s ambassadors (Romans 8:19). It is in God’s presence that we see and understand the way of life, the fortification of strength and receive pleasures for evermore. His presence is readily available to whomsoever will make His presence a priority.
For The Cause of Christ,
Dr. Johnson Obamehinti