We are concluding on our series on Dwelling in the presence of God today and
we shall conclude this series with the topic-the Blessings of Dwelling in the
Presence of God. It’s really been an exciting journey gaining more insight into the joy
of spending quality time in the presence of God.
Most promises of God; even where it is not specifically stated in the scriptures are
hinged on dwelling in His presence. Obviously we cannot receive from a distance. The
mother hen protects and provides for her young ones, but she cannot protect or provide
for runaway chicks. This is the essence of the promise of protection in Psalm 91. Verse
1 states-He who dwells 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 whom I trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the
perilous pestilence.
Psalm 91 promises God’s protection, deliverance and care for those who trust in Him.
David declares in this psalm that the Lord is his refuge and fortress; and would deliver
him from sudden unexpected dangers and deadly diseases. However, the promised
protection is only for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. God’s
protection in Psalm 91 is effective only for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord
and have a personal intimate relationship with Him. Those who have removed
themselves from the protective canopy of God by staying at a distance from Him cannot
legally claim the protection declared by Psalm 91.
The scripture that comes to my mind in discussing the blessings of dwelling in the
presence of God is the declaration in Ephesians 3:20-Now unto Him that is able to do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think according to the power at
work in us…
This is because we cannot quantify or even begin to imagine the blessings that would
follow and overwhelm us if we assume a lifestyle of dwelling in the presence of God.
When we are dwelling in His presence, we are so close to Him that we know His mind
and would not need to spend time looking for what His word says about our needs. We
won’t have to spend time praying to approach His presence like some of us do before
pray, because we are already in His presence. We won’t need to spend much time
binding and casting the devil out of the vicinity because the devil keeps his distance
from the presence of God.
You would agree with me that you experience Joy unspeakable whenever you spend
time in the presence of God. Psalm 16:11 declares-You make known to me the path of
life; you will fill me with joy in your presence. Psalm 122:1 declares- “I rejoiced with
those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD. Have you noticed that It
does not matter how depressed you are, by the time you manage to get to Church or

fellowship and join in the singing of praises and worship songs, the burden is lifted and
you find yourself dancing and rejoicing.
We find rest, peace and contentment in the presence of God. God said to the Israelites
in Exodus 33:14-My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.
In John 14:27 Jesus declares-my peace I leave with you, peace I give you. Isaiah 26:3
declares-You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they
trust you. While Psalm 23:6 states-Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Our strength is renewed in the presence of God. Isaiah 40:31 states-But they that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as the eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; and they shall run and not faint. Psalm 46:1 declares
that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Many Christians of our day look for joy and pleasure in the wrong things and the wrong
places. A lot of Christians seek for joy and satisfaction in the same places as
unbelievers. Unfortunately the more they seek the less they find because real joy can
only be found in the presence of God.
An aura of joy, peace, confidence and contentment surrounds anyone who spends
quality time in the presence of God. David said in Psalm 4:8,-in peace will I both lay
me down and sleep, for Thou Jehovah alone makes me dwell in safety. To dwell in
safety signifies a state of peace.
There is power and anointing for healing in the presence of God. When the Lord is our
dwelling place in our everyday life, we can tap into His “divine power,” which according
to 2 Peter 1:3, gives us everything we need for life and godliness. Psalm 107:20 says-
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. God and
His word are the same. When we tarry in His word, we dwell in His presence and
through His word we receive healing in our bodies.
Exodus 33:11 states that the Lord spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks to
his friend. What a remarkable statement. Moses had a unique intimate relationship with
God; he was a friend of God and he spoke to God face to face because he was in God’s
presence. We will also hear God’s voice and communicate with Him in any way He
chooses if we make a habit of dwell in His presence.
By far the most beautiful result of dwelling and abiding in the presence of God is
expressed in Psalm 27 to be that of finding complete confidence and trust in God to see
one through any kind of challenge, crises or attack from the devil. Verses 1-6
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of
my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (v. 1) When the wicked advance against me to
devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall." (v. 2)

"Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident." (v. 3) "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of
the Lord and to seek him in his temple." (v. 4) For in the day of trouble he will keep me
safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high
upon a rock." (v. 5) "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround
me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the
Lord." (v. 6)
David here expresses total trust and confidence in God. He declares that though his
enemies attack, he trusted that God would protect and rescue him. David recognized
that there were many oppressors and adversaries around him. But he chose the best
way to fight his battle. David recognized that the power and anointing of God rested in
the presence of God. Instead of battling with the enemy; instead of spending time
battling with the devil and demons, David chose to invest his time into the presence of
God. David’s desire was to dwell in the presence of God to gaze on the beauty of the
Lord. David believed that his experience of God’s presence would be more appropriate
than praying for the destruction of his enemies. So he asked God to help him to remain
in His presence. David expressed confidence that if he remained in God’s presence,
God would shelter him and exalt him above his enemies.
David realized that the real battle is in waiting and dwelling in the presence of God not
in doing battle with the devil. He knew that if he could wait on God, he would see the
goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Brethren nothing can give a man more contentment than getting to that place where all
you desire is to dwell in the presence of God and sing to His praises with the confident
assurance that He would come through for you.
The truth is that Jesus did not teach us to stay at a distance from him; so that in the day
of trouble we would spend so many hours chasing demons; going through deliverances;
joining prayer chains and waking up in the midnight to battle. No. He taught us to spend
time renewing our minds in order to be transformed to his image so that like David in the
day of trouble the Lord would hide us in his shelter and exalt us above our enemies.
Psalms 91:1 and 27 leave us in no doubt that the only way we can be confident of the
Lord’s protection is by making it a lifestyle to dwell in His presence. So we are fighting
our battles backwards by waiting for the day of trouble before we start binding and
casting and praying Psalm 91.
We need discipline. We need to give God enough time to study His word and gaze on
Him. We need to dwell in His presence so that we can transform into His image and
build relationships with Him. We need to sit in his presence so long that the devil gets
the message that he needs to keep at a distance from us.
Waiting on God’s presence is never wasted time.