15 Bible Verses About the Presence of God
God’s Word has a great deal to say about the presence of God. Today, we’ll explore 15 Bible verses about the presence of God. Then, we’ll learn how to apply these verses to our lives.
Let’s dive into God’s Word.
Bible Verses About the Presence of God
According to God’s Word, we cannot escape God’s presence. God wants this assurance to be a source of comfort to us. He is always with us, caring for us and guiding us.
Here’s a closer look at what the Bible says about God’s presence.
15 Bible Verses About the Presence of God
1. Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This powerful promise assures us that when we seek God, we will find him. God is always pursuing us. For this reason, when we turn to him, we find him waiting with open arms.
At certain times in my life, I’ve been frustrated by this promise. I’ve sought God and had a difficult time sensing his presence. This is where some of us get stuck. At these times, it’s important to remember that we don’t have to feel God’s presence for this promise to be true.
Whether we sense God or not, he is with us. Cling to this even when you cannot feel his presence with you. This is walking by faith, and God blesses those who walk by faith.
2. 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.
God wants to direct us. As we stay in step with his guidance, he fills us with joy.
I struggled to believe this truth for many years. I wanted to live life my way, according to my rules. However, when I finally surrendered every area of my life to God, I experienced joy and freedom like I’d never known. This can be true for you as well.
3. James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Sometimes, God seems distant because we have not been seeking him.
Do you regularly carve out time to talk to God and rest in his presence? If not, consider when you might find even a few minutes to do so. When you draw near to God, he will draw near to you.
4. Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
David wrote this Psalm as his heart cried out for God. Pursuing God’s presence was his “main thing.”
I have a gentle question for you today: What’s your main thing?
5. Psalm 139:7
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139 is a beautiful depiction of God’s intimate knowledge of each of his children. He aims to comfort us as we consider that we cannot flee from his presence. He is always with us to guide, defend, protect, and fight for us.
6. Matthew 28:20
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he spoke these words. He called his followers to obey him by sharing his love with the world. He also reminded us that he will be with us always.
7. Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Most of us find comfort in what we can acquire in our human strength. For many of us, this leads to finding security in finances. Yet God reminds us not to fall in love with the accumulation of money. Instead, our strength is found in remembering that he is with us always.
8. Psalm 73:28
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Where do you turn for refuge and comfort at the end of a long day?
God is with you always, and he is inviting you to turn to him.
9. Psalm 140:13
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.
When we live in obedience, God’s presence blesses us. We often become more aware of his presence by tearing down the walls of disobedience. Is God calling you to obey him in any area today?
10. 1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
God is not just with us, he is in us! For those who follow Jesus, the Spirit of the Living God dwells within us. For this reason, we can never outrun him or hide from him. He wants to guide us, help us, support us, and comfort us.
11. Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
God made this promise thousands of years ago, and the promise stands for us today as well. God never abandons his children.
12. Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Do you need the reminder that God will not leave you? Memorize this verse and speak it when you feel alone and afraid. Your God is with you always.
13. Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
The pure in heart follow God in all their ways. They guard their hearts and minds and seek to live upright lives. In turn, they see the hand of God moving in their lives and will one day see him face-to-face in heaven.
14. Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Are you walking through a valley today?
God is with you. He wants to guide and comfort you.
15. 1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Are you living a life of love? Live a life of loving God and others, and God will dwell within you.
Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About the Presence of God to Our Lives
I now invite you to join our family in the woods, and we’ll explore four practical ways to experience and enjoy God’s presence.
The sinking sun shone white behind a cloak of low-hanging stratus clouds as the kids dipped their nets into a swampy bog. Through the lens of my camera, three bouncing bodies splashed and giggled. Enjoying the presence of God in his created world was filling us all with life-giving energy.
I had intentions of capturing dozens of images on the camera that weekend at the cabin.
Sadly, the morning after exploring the ponds, I awoke with a virus and barely managed to get out of bed throughout the rest of our weekend.
As I lay in the tiny, dark cabin bedroom, I was thankful for the previous evening—for catching red-spotted newts, collecting frog eggs, and enjoying the silence as we sat beside the beaver pond.
Embracing the memories from the previous day helped me endure the rest of the weekend’s misery.
The past dozen years of motherhood have taught me that I might not be able to embrace every moment of every day. Enjoying the presence of God isn’t easy when life is challenging.
Perhaps you want to be more aware of God’s presence as you aim to enjoy him, too. Let’s talk about how to enjoy him in even the challenging seasons of life.
Enjoying the Presence of God
Over time, I’ve learned the secret to enjoying the presence of God is learning that God is not disappointed in us when we don’t embrace every moment.
Instead of aiming to love every moment, we can cherish the golden threads of joy woven into the tapestries of even the darkest days.
Instead of aiming to love every moment, we can cherish the golden threads of joy woven into the tapestries of even the darkest days. #EmbracetheMoment #Joy #GiveThanks Share on XLet’s look at several practical ways to embrace the golden moments of our days as we aim to enjoy God’s presence.
Practical Insights on Enjoying the Presence of God
1. Take the time to pause and breathe—especially when you feel overwhelmed.
The next time you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, stop and breathe. Spend a few minutes inhaling slowly and paying attention to the way the air expands in your lungs. Exhale more slowly than you inhale, and you will calm your limbic system in the process.
While you breathe, it might help to repeat a phrase that helps you feel centered and focused on God. Try repeating a single, calming word or Bible verse.
I often repeat the truth from Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
This verse helps me return to peace and connect with God. I become more aware of his presence and less focused on the overwhelming circumstances surrounding me.
2. Pause and ask God to open your eyes to beauty.
Just as the white glow of sunlight through stratus clouds looked beautiful over the bog, ask God to open your eyes to beauty hidden within your ordinary moments.
When we watch for beauty, we often notice that beauty is all around us.
Ordinary scenes like children playing, maple leaves waving in the wind, and grass clippings on the sidewalk begin to look beautiful when we look with intention. Enjoying the presence of God can be as simple as stopping to thank him for a sunny day or a freshly mopped kitchen floor.
3. Remind yourself to look toward Jesus throughout your days.
Visual reminders can help us to look toward the Lord and be more aware of his presence throughout our days. I often wear a different ring, bracelet, or even an elastic hair tie around my wrist to remind me to look toward the Lord throughout my days.
In different seasons, I have written notes, placed picture frames with Bible verses on my desk, or set the timer on my phone to remind me to pause and pray. I simply stop what I’m doing, look to God, and spend a moment enjoying his presence with me.
Do what works for you.
The secret is to visually remind yourself to pause throughout your day as you look to the Lord and enjoy his presence.
4. Slow your pace to create space for enjoying the presence of God.
Lastly, enjoying the presence of God is more challenging when we are constantly hurried. Years ago, I decided I was going to do everything in my power to quit hurrying for good. I still occasionally succumb to haste, but I fight against it.
Here are two examples of embracing moments by living slowly:
As often as possible, practice mindful eating. Don’t watch TV or scroll through your phone while you eat. Instead, focus on enjoying each bite. Pay attention to the flavor and texture of your food as you chew and swallow. Talk to God while you eat and even imagine him sitting with you. In this way, you are enjoying the presence of God while you nourish your body.
Another idea is to try mindfully cooking. Prepare the food slowly. Mix and stir with intention. Enjoy the aroma and the texture of the food. Think of the farmer who harvested the wheat for your flour or the sugarcane for your sweet baking project. Talk with God as you cook. Open your heart to allow God to minister to you throughout the process.
Remember, God is not angry with you for failing to embrace every moment of every day. Ask God to open your eyes to more of his gifts, and you will begin enjoying his presence. This is the perfect place to begin.
A Free Devotional to Help You Enjoy the Presence of God:
If you enjoyed reading these Bible verses about the presence of God, I have a gift for you: My free online devotional Unrushed: Slow Your Pace and Embrace the Fully-Present Life. This is a powerful journey into a life that is more present and joyful. Click here, and I’ll send this free online devotional to your email inbox!
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