Here In Your Presence

Just as Moses had an encounter with the burning bush - the very presence of God - I have had ‘burning bush’ moments in my life…like the moment in 1981 when He confronted me head-on with His magnificent, undeniable love which brought about such a life-changing moment when the old things I thought defined me were burned away leaving only what was truly me unscathed and fully intact in a brand new identity!

Where would I be without the presence of the Lord in my life? I would be walking around in depravity of mind. I would be walking in a false identity born of my belief in the enemy’s lies. To be honest, I would probably be dead! I cannot live an abundant life apart from the presence of God. To help explain what I mean, today we are going to be talking about the story behind my song, Here In Your Presence, from the live worship recording Here In Your Presence. I received this particular song on December 13, 2008.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalm 16:8-11 NASB 

Where can we go from the presence of the Lord? He is everywhere we are! That tells me that I simply need to be aware that I am ALWAYS in His presence. One of the best remedies for sin…or despair…or sorrow…or wounds…or loneliness…is to be in someone else’s presence – to share our pain with another. That always lightens my load! To know that the Lord of All is with me through thick and thin lightens my load like nothing else.

Sometimes we get in such a hurry – even in our corporate worship times – that we have forgotten the importance of tarrying (waiting) in and on His presence. When we wait upon the Lord we actually begin to allow the things of the world to slough off of our souls. In His presence there is fullness of joy…there is food for our hungry soul…water for our thirsty soul…hope for our despair…comfort for our sorrow. Yet how many times have we worried more about lunch and feeding our physical body when our spiritual soul is in dire need? Far too often. This song came as I cried out to the Lord for more time in His presence.

If we never leave God’s presence, that means one of two things. Either we forget He is here or we willfully choose to ignore Him! Let us ask and allow the Holy Spirit to remind us of God’s presence with and in us…and let us not rely on our feelings to determine whether or not we are in His presence. This is where faith is of vital importance. Regardless of what we see with our physical eyes and regardless of what we feel in any given moment, let us choose to believe He is with us!

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money [or free from whatever the enemy is trying to distract you with], being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,” so that we confidently say,

“THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?”

Hebrews 13:5-6 NASB

Dennis Jernigan

I have exciting news for you today! For the past ten years, I have been writing my own daily devotions to help me with renewing my mind and to help me understand more of Who God is and what that means to my own identity. Last year, we released Daily Devotions For Kingdom Seekers, Vol I and I am so excited to be able to tell you about the release of Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers Vol II! The ebook is now available for $4.99 and the print version is available for $12.99 just in time for Christmas. I cannot think of a better way to bless those you love with the daily reminders of Who God is and of what that knowledge means concerning their own identity. Daily Devotions For Kingdom Seekers Vol. 2 is available at the following online vendors - Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and anywhere else you buy books online! Or you can Just click the link provided in the podcast notes and order your own copy today - and pick up a few as gifts for those you think might be blessed by such a gift.

I have a gift for you today simply for taking the time to read this blog - a free devotional ebook for you. You can simply go to amazon.com and type in the search bar Daily Devotions For Kingdom Seekers and you will see the Kindle version free for the taking! Please send everyone you know to get their own copy and remember to leave me a review after you have used the book for a few days.

To listen to the podcast version of this teaching along with the song, Here In Your Presence, got to https://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/here-in-your-presence-1539720511/