How to Identify the Presence of God

Feeling insignificant? Unimportant? Condemned? These feelings are signs that the presence of God is missing from your life. Let me prove it to you. Recently, I have been feeling a little yucky. I felt shame, darkness, and basically just a black hole in my heart. I kept asking God, “Lord, what am I missing that has me feeling like this?”. A few days passed and I randomly heard “Did not our heart burn within us?”. I quickly googled the verse and found Luke 24:32. Here is a quick study God led me on:

This study starts in Luke 24, feel free to read the chapter or click HERE to get a quick overview/reminder below.

Overview: A quick back story on Luke chapter 24. Jesus was crucified and laid to rest in a tomb. A group of women went to the tomb and found it empty, they ran and told the disciples. After the disciples were told the tomb was empty two of the disciples walked to a nearby city and encountered Jesus’ walking, but he appeared to them as a stranger. Jesus then started speaking with them about the recent events, but they did not recognize him. The two disciples asked him to come in to eat with them, once he blessed the food, it was at that moment that they recognized him as Jesus. Read Luke 24 to get a better overview.

Once the disciples realized it was Jesus they said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”. This showed the presence of God causes a physical feeling of burning in our hearts but……. what is this feeling? And why? I was then reminded of these verses:

• Exodus 24:17 ” And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mount of the children of Israel.”
• Deuteronomy 4:41 ” Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound of the words, but saw no form; you only heard a voice.“

When God appeared to the children of Israel, he appeared as FIRE. Once God showed me these verses, I asked him again. So, why does your presence cause a burning in our hearts? He replied that his glory (Exodus 24:17) was physically manifesting in our hearts. That like the mount being on fire so was our heart when the presence of God was resting on it. At this point, I pray that this makes sense to you, as it did to me.

God’s glory is so big that we actively feel it in our physical body. I was shocked, that I could now physically pinpoint when the presence of God was present and when he was speaking to me.

Now, going back to feeling insignificant? Unimportant? Condemned? Why do we feel like this when the presence of God is missing in our lives?

ANSWER- The definition of Glory is magnificence or great beauty, honor, splendor, reverence and the antonym (opposite meaning) to the word glory is insignificant, unimportant, unknown and condemnation.

When the presence of God is not in our life neither is God’s glory. They are interchangeable, meaning you can’t have the presence of God and not the glory of God, and vice versa. Without the glory of God, the feelings of insignificance or purposelessness are now the dominant presence in your life. WOW!!

I now understand the desperation when King David said to God “Do not cast me away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me” Psalms 51:11. King Saul is a perfect example of this (Read 1 Samuel 16:14).

If you have never experienced the burning in your heart, then you have never experienced the presence of God. So, the next question would be how do you consistently get in the presence of God?

1. God hates sin, make sure you’re living a life of repentance.
2. Be in a place of DESPERATION to experience God. Sometimes, your desperation will outweigh sin or any circumstance, and the presence of God will meet you where you’re at.
3. Live a fasting lifestyle. This helps to kill your flesh so you can hear from God clearly.

I now know If I start to feel the same yucky feeling it is because I have not been spending enough time in the presence of God. For me, that looks like setting time apart in my day to spend intimate time with him. Sometimes I put worship music on, meditate on verses, and just talk to him, this includes waiting until he talks back.

The point is God’s presence causes you to be whole, complete, loved, and purpose-filled, and it also deters evil spirits from coming and tormenting you (no sage necessary- not that it works anyway). So, seek his presence today guys. 😉

Written by: Elisarri