The day I got saved, I felt the presence of God so strongly—it was as if I had been transported to another world. I remember walking down the aisle of our church, the pastor laying hands on me, and then waking up on the floor about ten minutes later. Any fear and depression I had been feeling were completely obliterated. The peace of God was all over me.
Even my parents could feel it as we drove home from church. That entire day, I felt like I was wrapped in a cloud of peace.
At the time, we were living in the heart of South-Central Los Angeles. I remember looking out at the old, poverty-stricken streets on the way home. Normally, those streets felt depressing—but that day, I saw them differently. I found myself in love with them. I looked at the people and wanted to hug them all. I saw the old, run-down buildings and thought, How beautiful.
God’s presence changed everything for me.
Psalm 16:11 says, “In His presence is fullness of joy.” That means there is no greater joy than what is found in God’s presence. From the moment I was saved—on the day His presence engulfed me—I knew there was nothing more important than God. In fact, that was the day I decided to pursue ministry.
I remember thinking, If people only knew about this power, they would drop everything for Him. If they could just get a taste of God, how many lives could be changed?
We hear about drug-infested cities, rising crime, and high suicide rates. People are desperate for freedom. They’re looking for a way out. They need God’s presence. And guess what? It’s our job to bring it to them.
God’s Presence Is Our Real Business
God dwells in His people. You and I are carriers of His presence.
1 Corinthians 6:19 says that we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. That is our real business—God is our business.
We had nothing to do with our own design as human beings. God created us with the precise purpose of housing His Spirit. No matter what our occupation or business is, everything else is secondary to cultivating God’s presence in our lives. We were created for His presence. Until we realize that, we cannot truly be successful in our jobs, businesses, or families.
Imagine how successful you would be if every time people walked into your business, they felt the presence of God. Imagine arriving at work each day with an atmosphere of peace surrounding you. Or having guests come into your home and not wanting to leave because they could feel the glory of God there.
That’s how it’s supposed to be.
If we would focus on maintaining God’s presence in our lives, we would be far more successful in everything we do. There is no failure in God’s presence—only success.
3 Practical Ways to Start Manifesting God’s Presence
Here are three practical ways to begin manifesting God’s presence in your life:
1. Invite Him In
This sounds simple, but if you’ve been holding onto certain areas of your life with a tight grip, letting God in may feel difficult at first.
James 4:8 tells us that if we draw closer to God, He will draw closer to us. This applies to every area of our lives. With both your mouth and your heart, invite Him in by saying, “Come closer to me, Lord. Be a part of what I’m doing.”
Here’s a tip: When He comes, don’t limit Him with preconceived notions of how it should look. Let God be God—don’t put Him in a box.
2. Surrender to His Instructions
Whatever He says, do it.
One thing I’ve learned from studying God’s Word is that He can be very detailed when He speaks—and those details are not a waste of time. They are vital to His ultimate plan.
If God tells you to pray at 5 a.m. or fast every Monday, then His instructions should become your life’s mission. Commit to obedience, even if you don’t get it right every time. If you fail one day, get up and try again tomorrow.
3. Never Quit
Decide that manifesting God’s presence is your life’s mission—and never give up.
Don’t quit just because you have a bad day or because it feels hard. If you fall, get back up. If you lose focus, retrace your steps and get back on track. Live a life of continual obedience, and God will honor your heart.
Time is going to pass anyway—you might as well spend it getting closer to God’s presence.
Make the Decision Today
Make the decision today to cultivate God’s presence in your life. From now on, choose only to do the things that enhance the manifestation of His peace and power in your life and business.
Then, watch what God will do.