In His Presence We Bloom and Flourish

This post is deeply inspired by my notes from the School of the Soul series which can be found on the Prayer Rain youtube channel. It was initiated and led by Apostle Isi Igenegba - a woman of God whom I have come to deeply admire.

"In your presence there is fullness of joy..." Psalms 16:11

🕊️🧎🏾‍♀️The Ruach Elohim

In the Bible the presence of God usually refers to the Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim) dwelling within an area, person, or object. During times of Moses, the priests would commune with the Spirit of God in the tabernacle, as it was the place that God had consecrated and designated as the place of meeting. The Ark of the Covenant was the physical representation of God’s presence among them, which is why strict rules governed how it was handled and accessed. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, where the Ark was located, and this was done just once a year (Exodus 25, 26; Leviticus 16). Today, through the blood of Jesus, we are able to come into the presence of God, whenever we want, regardless of where we are (Hebrews 10:19). This post will explore how the life-changing power of God’s presence shows up in the life of those who commune with Him.

💫Life-changing Encounter

Whenever a person sits in the presence of God, there is often tangible evidence of their communion with Him. For example, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai after a 40-day fast, his face shone like the sun, for he had spent that time in God’s presence, gleaning from His wisdom (Exodus 34:29). Even objects and places that are visited by God exude the awe of that encounter. For instance, the garden in Genesis brimmed with life and out of it flowed four powerful rivers, signifying abundance and vitality. Planted in Eden, the place of God’s pleasure, this garden carried the memory of His presence. It was here that God regularly visited and communed with Adam and Eve. Thus, the productivity and life that emanated from the garden was the essence of God Himself. In another instance, when Aaron’s rod was left in the tabernacle, it “budded, blossomed and produced almonds” overnight, simply because it had been left in the presence of God.

🔥 A Force To Reckon with

Thus, God’s presence isn’t merely a place; it is a force of power that brings life to everything it encounters, even inanimate objects. It also comes with healing; in Psalm 23, David speaks of God being a good shepherd who leads us beside quiet waters and restores and heals our souls. In God’s presence we also experience divine peace, which is the capacity to rest and find joy in the midst of a storm. Lastly, the presence of God comes with the blessing of fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). When we spend time meditating on His word, and invite His spirit to teach us the things that are yet unknown, we become like a tree planted by stream of water, we bear fruit in season and whatever we do prospers (Psalm 1:3).

To experience this goodness, however, we must choose to live a consecrated life. In Deuteronomy 30:19, we learn that God presents us with both life and death; blessings and curses, and that He urges us to choose life and blessings so that we and our seed may live. We also learn that the heavens and the earth bear witness to our choices, keeping a record of how we live out our life.

Therefore, let us choose life daily - sharing sweet fellowship with our God (Psalm 55).