"Turning Toward The Presence Of God" by Nancy Dufresne
“Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and THROUGH THE LENGTH OF MY DAYS the house of the Lord [and HIS PRESENCE] SHALL BE MY DWELLING PLACE” (Ps. 23:6, AMPC).
Every believer is “in the Presence of God” in the sense that the Greater One is within – He’s in us through His Spirit. But we are to learn to live mindful of Him Who is within. It makes all the difference in life when our attention is fixed on the One within. We rob ourselves of the highest flow when we don’t give proper attention to Him Who abides within.
“In His Presence is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). Living in the Presence of God is the greatest joy offered to God’s people.
One day, as I was driving down the road in my car, God spoke to me, saying, “Living in My Presence doesn’t come by earning, but by turning. No one has ever turned toward Me and I have not met them there.” We don’t have to do enough studying, praying, and good works to earn His Presence. He has already made Himself ours! All we must do is turn our attention toward Him.
That’s in keeping with what God said to me years ago, “Start every day in the Spirit, then keep your heart turned toward Me all day long.”
It only takes a moment to turn! Turning is something everyone can do!
King Hezekiah, while on his death bed, turned – and the turn added 15 years to his life.
The prodigal son, who had left his father’s house for a lifestyle of sin, made a turn – and his life was put back on course.
Everyone can turn – turn toward the Presence of God. Every believer can turn. The sinner can turn. The backslider can turn. The sick one can turn. The one with financial struggles can turn. The depressed one can turn. The young can turn. The old can turn. The healthy one can turn. The physically impaired one can turn. There’s no one who can’t turn toward the Presence of God.
What’s in a turn? Everything! What’s in a turn? A life of joy and peace. What’s in a turn? The plan of God comes into view. What’s in a turn? Eternal life! What’s in a turn? The fellowship of God Himself.
Turning toward God includes turning toward His Word and away from everything that opposes or contradicts it. We are to live by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
Turning also includes turning toward our spirit and away from the mental and physical arenas. To turn toward our spirit is to turn toward the Greater One within – the Source of all power, all strength, and all ability. To turn toward the Greater One within, we turn toward all He is IN us – the Healer, Deliverer, Provider, and Victor, and the Source of all joy, peace, righteousness, and wisdom.
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence” (Ps. 9:1-3). As we give ourselves the spiritual habit of continually praising Him, we hold ourselves in His Presence, and the anointing of His Presence destroys any yokes. Our enemies of sickness, pain, depression, lack, confusion, doubt, and every other enemy fall and perish from our lives as we live in His Presence.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee…” (Ps. 91:1-3). His Presence is our place of refuge and our safety from all enemies that oppose.
“All throughout the day, we can turn our attention toward Him.”
All throughout the day, we can turn our attention toward Him. Daily tasks and responsibilities don’t have to rob us of the consciousness of Him.
James 4:8 tells us, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” He always responds to our movement in His direction.
For the rest of our life, we can live in the highest flow as we give ourselves the spiritual habit of living in His Presence by the simple action of a turn. Then we can say as David did, “…THROUGH THE LENGTH OF MY DAYS the house of the Lord [and HIS PRESENCE] SHALL BE MY DWELLING PLACE” (Ps. 23:6, AMPC).