S) "16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'"
Genesis 28:16 (NASB)
O) There are many, many verses in the Bible that tell us of God's omnipresent quality. He is everywhere. However, as mortal humans, we are not always aware of God's presence. This is a defining point. God is everywhere, but it makes little difference to most people, because most people are not aware of His presence. When we become aware of it, or are made aware of His presence, it will alter our view of our circumstances, a season, or our entire lives. To be clear, Jacob was not an explorer. He did not discover God. He was not on an expedition, either, looking to find God. God sought him out, choosing to reveal Himself to His servant.
A) The reality of God's presence does not change because of my ability (or inability) to perceive Him. Furthermore, I have the knowledge that God is omnipresent, but I do not often have the experience of it. This is a matter of the intimacy of my awareness. Like, I can know that childbirth is painful, but I cannot experience it. Coming from a Pentecostal church background, I've heard many phrases and Bible verses quoted, in efforts to somehow force God to manifest His presence, whether in a prayer meeting or worship service, or otherwise. The plain truth is, God is sovereign and it is only according to His will that His presence is experienced. I can have all of the most heartfelt, sincere, authentic worship in the world, but if God does not want to reveal Himself in an experiential way, a way that I can "feel," then it is plainly His prerogative. He is God, He will do what He wants. Jesus said if we seek Him, we will find Him, but the details of that revelation are not up to me. After all, I have the Bible, which is the Word of God. Jesus was the word of God manifested and made flesh. So, if I am seeking to be in His presence, I only need to open my Bible. I have been in worship services where I felt (what I would describe as) the manifested presence of the LORD, and I was overwhelmed by Him. I have had times of deep prayer (often with fasting), where God has chosen to let me experience the presence of His Spirit heavily upon me. Those times are wonderful blessings. However, I cannot chase those feelings. The reality is that my feelings are not why I serve God Almighty. If I am chasing those feelings, then I am actually idolizing the LORD, reducing my Creator to little more than a feel-good-pill. No, I must leave it to God to choose when, where, and how He will reveal His presence to me in a way that I experience, more than simply knowing in my head, the truth of His omnipresence.
P) Father, Your presence overwhelms me. I am not aware of Your presence often. I do not meditate on Your omnipresence as often as I might, and I do not enjoy the experience of Your overwhelming Spirit as often as I might like. But I thank You for the knowledge of Your presence. It is a great comfort to think and know, that You are everywhere. Nothing escapes Your notice, and You are never far from me. It is even greater a comfort, to be enthralled in Your presence. I ask You to make Yourself known to me often, in ways I cannot deny or ignore. But, I concede that it is only according to Your will. Forgive me for any arrogance I have shown, in ever trying to force a connection that is not mine to control. I confess that You are sovereign in Your every move. So, let Your will be done, alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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