Caleb Walker

Exodus 13

     God provided His presence to the Israelites as they set out on their journey out of Egypt to the Promised Land, and He did this in the form of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. When God’s presence moved, they moved. When His presence stayed, they stayed. God’s presence was very noticeable, unavoidable, very visible, very essential, and very peaceful. God’s presence in our lives is meant to be experienced the same way.

     God’s presence is noticeable. The Israelites would easily see the pillar and fire leading the way. They could choose to ignore it or follow it. There was not an in between.  It’s the same in the Christian life. We will either cultivate an awareness of God’s presence, or we will diminish it and ignore it. God wants us to notice Him at work in our lives. How do we cultivate an awareness of His presence? There is no pillar of cloud or fire today, but God’s presence is just as real and just as powerful.

     We cultivate an awareness of God’s noticeable presence by opening our spiritual eyes through depending on the indwelling Holy Spirit, prayer (both special times of daily prayer and being prayerful throughout the day), being with other brothers and sisters in Christ who are in God’s presence, going to church as we are commanded in the Scriptures to simply not forsake gathering ourselves with other believers (Hebrews 10:25), keeping a prayer and spiritual walk journal to observe God’s works and ways in your life, having a prayer partner to pray with, having an accountability partner, and being faithful to physical, in-person, corporate worship. Virtual won’t cut it. Many have shared times when they didn’t feel like going to church or were tempted to allow something they felt was “more important” get in the way, but they went and the Word and the worship lifted their heart and mind to have a fresh awareness of God’s presence. We need to be committed to local church, in person worship to experience god’s presence.  

     God’s presence is unavoidable. One can imagine those Israelites getting up in the morning, stepping outside of their tents, enjoying a good yawn and a stretch and then looking up and immediately being struck with the glorious presence of God in that pillar. God wants us to wake up every morning, enjoy a good stretch and yawn and look up to Him through spending time in His Word and in prayer and many recommend doing this first thing. If we simply open our spiritual eyes in these practical ways, we will experience the unavoidable nature of God’s presence.

     Before smart phones came into existence, I used to spend much less time on the phone because it was pointless to look down at my phone, as it was not a smart phone with all kinds of apps and distractions. If I was walking around my college campus, there was nothing else to do but look around, say hello to passing fellow students, or look up into the sky and look around and see the beauty of God’s creation. I miss those days and it takes more effort now to be less distracted by my phone. The beauty of God’s creation is His general revelation. The Word of God is His special revelation. Both reveal God-definitely the Word preeminently—if we will look up.

     God’s presence is visible. While His presence was visible in the pillar and cloud to the Israelites, God’s presence is visible through transformed lives, fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, unity in His church, just looking up and seeing the steeple with the cross of Christ lifted into the sky when I drive into work every morning. God’s presence is visible in worshiping with other brothers and sisters in Christ, seeing the impact of God’s Word on people’s faces, and knowing His presence when we’re in worship. It’s indescribable, yet visible.

     God’s presence is essential. Those Israelites needed God’s presence to guide them to the Promised Land and to reassure them that He—the living, majestic, mighty, glorious, omnipotent, gracious, just God of the universe!—was with them. We cannot take one step in life without a cultivated awareness of God’s presence.

     God’s presence is peaceful. God gave His people peace against any and all foes with His presence. What foe are you facing today, external or internal? Let God’s presence give you His unimaginable peace. He will guide you. No matter how dry this desert season, God’s presence will see you through.

How to Pray:

• Help me to remove distractions in order to notice and savor Your presence.
• Help me to cultivate Your presence by giving the habits of cultivating Your presence the priority in my life.
• I acknowledge the necessity of Your presence and my need to cultivate a greater awareness of Your presence.
• Thank You for Your presence.