In times like these, there is hardly a message more urgent than learning how to carry God’s presence everywhere we go. Across nations and continents, uncertainty, fear, and instability have become part of daily life. Yet, in the middle of chaos, God’s desire remains unchanged: He longs to dwell with His people and walk with them daily. This truth is beautifully captured in Exodus 33:13–17, where Moses boldly asked God not to send Israel anywhere without His presence. Moses understood that success, safety, and distinction were not found in numbers, strategy, or strength, but in God’s abiding presence.
The apostle Paul reinforces this truth in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 when he explains that while humans may plant and water, only God gives growth. This reminds us that God’s presence is the source of all true increase—spiritual, personal, and even societal. Without Him, effort becomes empty; with Him, even the smallest seed flourishes.
To carry God’s presence means that wherever you go, He goes with you. It is not limited to church services or prayer moments alone; it is a lifestyle of continuous communion with God throughout the day. Jesus Himself assured us in Matthew 28:20 that He is with us always, even to the end of the age. Hebrews 13:5 echoes this promise when God declares that He will never leave nor forsake us. Carrying God’s presence, therefore, is the reality of God actively dwelling in a person’s life, influencing their decisions, actions, and responses everywhere they go.
Scripture teaches that our bodies are the dwelling place of God’s Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3:16–17, Paul reminds believers that they are God’s temple and that His Spirit lives in them. This truth explains why extraordinary things happened through ordinary people in the book of Acts. In Acts 19:11–12, handkerchiefs carried from Paul’s body brought healing and deliverance, not because the cloth itself was special, but because it had come in contact with a man who consistently carried God’s presence. Similarly, Acts 5:14–16 records how Peter’s shadow healed the sick as he passed by. These were not performances; they were the overflow of lives saturated with God.
A story often told among ministers speaks of a quiet missionary who worked in a remote village for years without public recognition. He preached, prayed, and served faithfully. One day, a sick child was brought to him—not because he advertised healing meetings, but because the villagers had observed peace, kindness, and authority in his life. As he prayed, the child recovered. When asked how it happened, he replied, “God is always with me.” That is the power of carrying God’s presence—it speaks even when we are silent.
So how do we carry God’s presence?
The first step is making God our priority. Carrying God’s presence begins with vision—vision for God and vision with God. Jesus made this clear in Matthew 6:33 when He instructed us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When God becomes first in our thoughts, plans, imagination, and decisions, everything else finds its proper place. David demonstrated this priority when he prepared generously for the house of God and gave sacrificially from his own resources, not because he was obligated, but because his affection was set on God. Solomon walked in this same devotion. Before asking for wisdom, he first expressed his love for the Lord through worship and sacrifice. Even King Hezekiah, at the very beginning of his reign, prioritized restoring the house of God. These men teach us that what we place first in our hearts determines what God entrusts into our hands.
Another vital way we carry God’s presence is through the Word of God. Scripture is not merely information; it is habitation. Psalm 119 describes the Word as something to be hidden in the heart, not just read with the eyes. Colossians 3:16 commands believers to let the Word of Christ dwell richly within them. When God’s Word lives in us, God Himself finds a home in us. Psalm 1 paints a vivid picture of such a person as a tree planted by streams of water, consistently fruitful, stable, and prosperous. Jesus affirmed this in John 14:23 when He said that anyone who loves Him and keeps His Word becomes a dwelling place for both the Father and the Son.
Abiding in Christ through obedience is another key to carrying His presence. In John 15, Jesus explains that fruitfulness flows from remaining connected to Him. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own, believers cannot live impactful lives without abiding in Christ. Obedience is not a burden; it is the pathway to joy, strength, and spiritual productivity. When we abide in Him and His Word abides in us, our lives naturally reflect His presence.
Entering and sustaining God’s presence also begins with being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Salvation is not merely moral improvement; it is spiritual rebirth. Through Christ, we become new creations, receiving new hearts and a new spirit. God places His Spirit within us and empowers us to walk in His ways. This new identity allows us to approach God boldly, not in fear or shame, but with confidence rooted in righteousness. Righteousness means being right with God—standing before Him as though we have never sinned, not because of our works, but because of Christ’s finished work.
Praise and worship are powerful expressions of God’s presence. Scripture teaches that God inhabits the praises of His people. When Paul and Silas worshiped in prison, chains broke, doors opened, and captives were freed. When Jehoshaphat faced overwhelming opposition, he placed worshippers at the front of the army. As they praised God, He fought their battles for them. Praise invites God’s presence, and His presence changes circumstances.
Fasting also plays a crucial role in carrying God’s presence. Fasting is not about hunger; it is about hunger for God. It is a deliberate act of seeking Him with the whole heart and drawing nearer to Him. Throughout Scripture, we see God respond powerfully to fasting—from Moses on Mount Sinai, to Esther standing in the gap for her people, to Jesus preparing for ministry. Fasting quiets the flesh and sharpens spiritual sensitivity, training the body to submit to the Spirit.
Ultimately, carrying God’s presence is not about moments, but about a way of life. It is living with the awareness that God dwells within us, walks with us, and works through us. When we prioritize Him, saturate ourselves with His Word, abide in obedience, worship sincerely, and seek Him through fasting, His presence becomes evident—not just in church, but everywhere we go.
In a world desperate for hope, people may not always read the Bible, but they read lives. When you carry God’s presence, your life becomes a living testimony that God is still near, still powerful, and still changing lives today.
– Thoughts of God