In His Presence

How do I know that I am in Your Presence? How do I have confidence in your love? As I pondered this, I also wondered, who am I to even consider such a lofty thought. What in my experience would lead me to think I would know.

Is this like the quality of humility? That is, if we declare our humility, it is not in our grasp?

As a child, my Dad’s presence brought many thoughts in my heart….love, adoration and joy. I experienced fear and guilt when I disobeyed and I could always expect discipline . But I had confidence in his protection, daily needs such as food and clothing, and always a secure place to sleep.

When one of us children complained about what we did not have, Dad would take us for a ride. He would drive us past house after house, each one more dilapidated and worn than the last, and ask, “Would you like to live here….or here?”

We had a choice to make. We were born into this family, but did we want to stay? We three children looked at the houses and considered the alternatives. Then we looked at the back of Dad’s head as he drove…so strong, so caring, so secure. How could we leave Daddy who loved us?

“Dad, we decided, we want to stay with you. Let’s go home.”

We knew we would have unconditional love, and with it, discipline tempered with forgiveness.

As I ponder the words, In His Presence, I realize that being a part of the family of God holds the same promise of love and discipline that I knew in our earthly family. Discipline that teaches.

Being in His Presence is not all love and light – there is discipline, too. Learning to stay within God’s boundaries where we are safe. Dad taught us about living in his boundaries and we often crossed those boundaries.

Did Dad grow weary in parenting? Yes, I am sure he did, yet God gave him the strength to continue to teach us to be obedient and faithful. For this is how to learn faithfulness and trust in God.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30

When Dad died in 1979, I realized we no longer had his presence here on earth. I knew that Dad’s life had pointed me to God the Father. For me, God became my ‘Abba’ – Daddy.

In His Presence. Often the words of a song and the thoughts He gives me, quicken my heart. And I know His Presence. Learning day by day, I long for that presence when tears of joy fall on my face. That is when I know His presence and I know the freedom of His Love. There is an ebb and flow to knowing His presence, and I long for Him. His Presence is in my heart and mind more and more as I long for the ‘mansion with many rooms He has prepared for me’.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

You are my strength, 
Strength like no other


Strength like no other – 
Reaches to me



You are my hope
 – Hope like no other


Hope like no other
 – Reaches to me



In the fullness of Your grace, 
In the power of Your Name


You lift me up – 
You lift me up.


Hillsong –

You make known to me the path of life: in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning. Psalm 18:12


Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, Proverbs 8:30