7 Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God
What do you want your life to be about? I asked myself this question the other day as dawn ascended in shades of lilac over the tree line. Opening my Bible in search of Bible verses about dwelling in the presence of God, I thought about learning to embrace more of life’s moments, cultivating joy, and rising above stress.
Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God
As I watched the sunrise, I reflected on the previous day and noticed some unhealthy patterns: my tendency to hurry through certain chores, impatience with my family, and an undercurrent of stress flowing beneath all my moments.
There were no epic disasters.
However, there was too much striving and not enough joy. My day was more about performance than presence.
Today, I’ll share some glimpses into this journey with you.
First, let’s look at seven Bible verses about dwelling in the presence of God. These verses will help us reframe what it means to embrace our moments.
7 Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God
Let’s begin our time together by meditating on seven Bible verses about dwelling in the presence of God.
1. Psalm 84:10
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (ESV).
These words remind us that being in God’s presence is better than being anywhere else.
Do you long for God’s presence?
If not, ask God to help stir your longing for him.
2. Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
When we seek God with our whole hearts, we find him. We can claim this powerful promise during life’s troubled times.
God is not far off.
He wants us to experience his presence and power.
Seek him and you will find him!
3. Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
We find the fullness of joy in God’s presence!
Is your joy lacking?
Turn to Jesus. Ask him to fill you with his joy. This is a prayer he will answer because he wants your joy to be full.
4. Psalm 139:7
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
This Psalm brings us comfort by reminding us that we cannot run or hide from God. His comforting presence is always with us.
The next time you feel alone or misunderstood, remind yourself that God is always with you. He understands you better than you understand yourself.
5. Matthew 28:20
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he reminded his followers that he was always present with them.
He is always with his followers today as well. He wants to strengthen and uphold us.
6. 1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
This powerful verse teaches us that God dwells within us. The next time you doubt God’s nearness, speak this verse. The Living God has made his dwelling within you!
7. John 15:5
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We bear good fruit by staying close to Jesus.
Abide in Jesus by talking to him, reading your Bible, and returning your thoughts to him often. When you do so, your life will reflect his glory!
Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God to Our Lives
As I read the verses above, I also reflected on the previous day: I hurried through my early morning prayer time because I was eager to dive into household tasks before the pitter-patter of little feet stirred. Performance.
I rushed through folding laundry, scrubbing floors, wiping down windows, and doing outdoor chores because I was eager to get through my list before the kids arrived home from school. Performance.
Many of my moments were all about getting something done so I could get onto the next moment, and that’s no way to live.
It’s not the life I’m trying to live, but it’s the life I seem to chase with my white knuckles holding onto control of my days. I’m stressed, and I need to get off the freight train of productivity.
When I live in this way, I’m failing to dwell in God’s presence. My life is focused on myself and my goals.
Imagining the Life You Want to Live
After reading the preceding verses, I read the following words: “Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it’” (Jeremiah 2:25 MSG).
“Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway? But you say, ‘I can’t help it’” (Jeremiah 2:25 MSG). #slow #presence #Jesus Share on XI knew they were words for me.
Originally written to the people of Judah, these words warned God’s people not to chase what would only bring them misery. I couldn’t help but think of my unbridled pursuit of performance and the stressful misery produced by my hurried lifestyle.
The words of my varsity volleyball coach echoed in my mind: “Imagine yourself succeeding, and you will prepare yourself for success.”
He taught us to visualize ourselves acing our serves, digging the hardest hit balls, and hustling on the court.
The premise was simple: Prepare your mind to win, and your body will follow.
Thinking of this insight, I imagined the day ahead of me. One by one, I imagined the tasks, and then I imagined pausing to embrace the present moment instead of chasing performance. I imagined reminding myself of God’s presence with me and looking toward him.
Learning to Embrace the Present Moment: How It All Played Out
As the day unfolded, I pushed back against the strong desire to hurry and perform. I felt the anxiety in my chest, and I named it. However, I did not submit to its summons to hurry and produce more.
I resisted the usual annoyance that often comes with completing the tasks I don’t particularly care for: putting away laundry, waiting for the buckets of water to fill so I could go outside and care for our animals, and checking the oven for the sixth time to see if the roast had cooked through yet.
Instead of grumbling through these tasks, I breathed through them.
I felt the warmth of clean laundry, the cold sting of the water as it filled the buckets, and the fiery heat of the oven as the rush of hot air dried my skin. In the process, I was aware of God’s presence with me.
When the school bus returned at 3:35, I stopped everything to sit and listen to my children.
We talked about games at recess and pizza for lunch.
I was present.
Not performing.
I was moving in the direction of dwelling in God’s presence.
Your Invitation to Apply These Bible Verses About Dwelling in the Presence of God:
I have not arrived.
But I am moving in the direction of the life I want to live, and every failure is an opportunity to try again.
What about you, friend?
Let’s get back to our first question: What do you want your life to be about?
Do you want it to be about accomplishing tasks? Being organized? Being put-together? Looking good?
Or do you want it to be about loving well and living in a wholly present kind of way?
When we live in the present, we are less stressed. We enjoy our lives with our senses. We’re more content.
Becoming More Present With God and Others
Imagine what it would look like to move slowly and be fully present throughout all the tasks you need to complete throughout the upcoming day. Imagine the places you will go and the people you will see. What will it look like to be fully engaged and filled with peace? What will it look like to pursue presence instead of chasing performance? Imagine it all.
Then, go live your life.
You won’t do it perfectly, and that’s okay.
You might just realize it’s worth trying again the next day—and the day after that.
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