Tammy Carnevale has been a member of Faithful Finish Lines 2.0 since January of 2020 and has lost 125 so far, bringing her starting weight of 349 pounds down to 224 pounds. She also manages her Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia with the tools she has learned in FFL program. Her passion is to use her writing and her own experience to help and support other women on their own weight loss journeys and managing chronic illness.
Want to feel inspired to spend more time with the Lord? Discover these 16 benefits of dwelling in God’s presence to see all the good He brings to your life.
How do you dwell in God’s presence?
Dwelling in God’s presence sounds easy. From experience, I can tell you it takes renewing the mind and effort to seek Him continually.
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!”
1 Chronicles 16:11
There are so many ways to dwell in God’s presence. Here are just a few:
- Journal
- Pray daily
- Study scripture
- Practice kindness
- Seek forgiveness
- Fellowship with believers
- Serve others
- Express gratitude for God’s blessings
- Trust God
The more time you spend dwelling in God’s presence, the more you will experience life and heart-transforming benefits.
For additional perspectives on how this impacts our daily lives, Christianity Today provides articles that offer biblical perspectives on Christian living.
The time you spend with God will be worth every second and will increase your joy, peace, and spiritual growth.
I pray this Scripture over all readers so that His words will touch each of you.
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
Ephesians 1: 16-17
16 Benefits Of Dwelling In God’s Presence
1. The fullness of joy & delight in the law of the Lord
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”
Psalm 16:11
Being in the presence of the Lord brings joy and knowledge of the path God wants for you.
I have never heard His audible reply, but He makes intentions heard through the Holy Spirit. I feel joy when I am on His path. You can feel this joy as well.
2. God’s perfect peace
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal”
Isaiah 26: 3-4
I remember bowing at the altar, tears dripping on the kneeling rail. I had nowhere to go with three little children and had to have my daughter’s father leave our home.
It was unsafe for him to stay and had to be done to protect myself and my children, but that unstable environment was all I knew, and that night at the altar, I felt lost and vulnerable, not knowing what my next steps looked like.
Have you ever felt that way? Lost, confused, broken, and vulnerable?
Even in the midst of the most challenging and heartbreaking situations, you can still experience God’s perfect peace that passes all understanding.
That night at the altar, I felt like the person described in the Footprints poem who had been dropped on the sands of the beach, unable to pick herself back up. But I was so desperately reaching out to God. And when I left that church, I felt His arms around me.
His peace covered me that night, and He carried me on to a much better, safer life.
That perfect peace is waiting for you, too.
3. Comfort in difficult times
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe”
Proverbs 18:10
We are humans. We will experience countless difficult times. God will not prevent difficulties from coming, but He is there to help us through all of them.
I know what it is like to not have enough money to pay a single bill, much less multiple bills. I know what it is like to go to the soup kitchen so that my children can eat.
I know what it feels like to ask, Are you there, God? Why me?
Sometimes, God provides comfort with a thought, giving you hope in hard times. Sometimes, His comfort comes as a feeling when you seek Him in your struggles.
Other times, God will use people in your life to tangibly take care of your needs as a way to comfort you.
As hard as it was to feel like there was never enough money to cover my basic expenses, I also experienced God’s provision through a friend who came up to me and handed me a $500 check and told me she felt God tell her I needed it.
His comfort is beyond our comprehension.
4. A safe, personal, and intimate relationship
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
At a Bible retreat, I was in a group, and we were asked to stand about 100 yards from a large oak tree. Half of us were told to never lift our eyes from the oak, and the other half to never lift our eyes from the ground and to walk to the tree.
The ones looking at the tree made it to the tree. They stumbled and, luckily, didn’t fall.
The ones looking at the ground never stumbled but never made it to the tree. It was amazing how far away from the tree they were.
The more you can keep your eyes fixed on God and not be distracted by your circumstances, the more you will know Him and see Him working in Your life.
You will recognize His voice, know Him intimately, feel safe in His presence, and have a personal relationship that goes far beyond just knowing about Him.
You will learn to really know Him more and more deeply.
5. Spiritual strength
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73: 26
If we stand on our own strength, we will fail. Using God’s spiritual strength will allow us to persevere and succeed.
When you spend time in God’s word and talking to God, you will gain His strength.
He will give you the strength you need for each task you are working on and will help to see you through to the end.
Dwell in God’s presence and lean into His strength. Always remember:
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
6. Spiritual growth in the Fruit of the Spirit
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5: 22-23
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).”
Ephesians 5: 8-9
“….the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Romans 8:6
God provided us with the Fruit of the Spirit as described in Galatians 5: 22-23.
So, how do we grow in the Fruit of the Spirit?
We don’t just buckle up and power our way through like we often think is the only way to grow in something like self-control.
No, instead, growth in these things comes from abiding in God. Sit in His presence, read His Word, pray to Him, and listen to Him.
We then can live in the light and in the Lord (Ephesians 5: 8-9). Let God in and live in His presence.
We can then renew our minds and focus on God. As Romans 8:6 tells us, we will then live in life and peace.
7. Divine rest & stillness
“ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”
Hebrews 4: 9-10
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4: 6-7
We need to rest. I know many of you are saying, “But I need to work to support my family” and “my life is always busy.”
Sometimes it seems impossible to calm the mind while, for the rest of the time, we are moving at the speed of light. I know this well, as I have a full-time job, three part-time jobs, and a family, but there is always time for God.
Sometimes, it is a:
- time to rest in the bathroom for some prayer and 5 minutes of quiet time.
- whispered thank you when a line at the grocery store opens.
- quiet reflection to be thankful.
If you too struggle with finding time for God, then don’t make time; take Him with you all day.
God’s divine rest is different from physical rest. It’s not just stepping away from doing things. When we are connected to Him, He will pour rest and peace into You when you are connected to Him, whether you are sitting still on the couch or running around with your kids.
8. Forgiveness from your sins
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
“But people are counted as righteous not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”
Romans 4:5
God’s forgiveness through Jesus makes you right with God, so you can have a relationship with Him forever in heaven. You need to trust in Jesus’ sacrifice to pay the price for your sins.
1 John 1:9 not only says that God forgives us, but He purifies us from all unrighteousness. Take that in.
God has purified you!
Love God, Trust God, He will forgive you and purify you so that you can be counted as righteous and have an intimate relationship with Him.
9. Freedom in Christ
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”.
Galatians 5: 1
These verses used to confuse me. I prayed over them many times. What is freedom? Does that mean I can do anything? Does it mean you can do anything?
For me, obesity was always my burden. Freedom meant I could eat anything and not gain weight, right?
No, we need to redefine what freedom really looks like.
Freedom in Christ does not mean doing whatever I feel like whenever I feel like it. That way of thinking is what our culture teaches, but it has only harmed me physically, emotionally, and spiritually when I’ve followed that way of living.
True freedom in Christ is experienced when we are connected to God and living within His protective boundaries for us.
Faithful Finish Lines 2.0 is a Christian weight loss program that gave me great guidelines on how to lose weight and how to have true food freedom in Christ. Freedom to choose healthy foods and not feel deprived. And it helped me redefine what true freedom is.
If you also deal with weight issues, please draw close to God and pray if He wants you to explore Faithful Finish Lines to help in your journey.
True freedom is not a matter of doing what you want without restraint, but cultivating the right wants and living in obedience to God’s will.
Freedom results when our wants align with God’s will.
How do we know if our wants align with God’s will?
We draw close to God, we dwell in His presence, we read His word, and listen.
10. Growing confidence in your identity in Christ
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority”.
Colossians 2: 9-10
“But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit “
1 Corinthians 6:17
Who are you in Christ? You are redeemed. Worthy. Forgiven. Free. And, as 1 Corinthians 6:17 tells us, you are one with Him in spirit.
As Colossians 2: 9-10 tells us, you are part of a body that the head, God, has an immense power and authority over everything.
Being in God’s presence will guide you to feeling, not just knowing what your identity is in Christ.
Knowing who you are in Christ will give you the confidence and strength to step out in service of Him and fulfill your purpose.
11. Changing your desires to match God’s
‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart”.
Psalm 37: 4
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
I used to think that this meant that God would give me whatever I desired. I was wrong.
God will place the desires in my heart that match His will. Those will become my new desires.
The desire for thinness, gone.
The desire for richness, gone.
The desire for popularity, gone.
All of those desires were replaced with a longing desire to help others, to have God’s word reach others, to be healthy, and to glorify God with my body, mind, and soul.
The more time you spend in God’s presence, the more you will find your desires naturally shift to aligning with God’s character and wanting what He wants for yourself and the good of those around you.
Ask God to place His desires in your heart to become your own.
12. Hear His voice & unique calling on your life
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”.
John 14:26
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
I always wondered and still do, sometimes, what God wants me to do. Do you wonder about this as well?
Dwelling in God’s presence will give you discernment, clarity, and guidance and will lead you to understand what His unique calling is in your life.
We all have reasons why we feel like we can’t do things that God may be calling us to do.
- We are scared.
- We have to give up control.
- It feels uncomfortable as it challenges us to step outside of our comfort zone.
Be in God’s presence so that you can benefit from His strength, joy, and peace.
He will lead you in the right direction, guiding your path every step of the way.
13. Wisdom & direction
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”
1 Corinthians 2: 12-13
Do you feel stuck and overwhelmed sometimes?
Usually, we think the answer is in thinking deeper or working harder, but the answer is to seek God. He is the true source of wisdom.
Be in His word. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. This will benefit you by knowing God’s desires and finding out your next steps.
Knowing your direction and having God’s wisdom will allow you to be a fruitful part of the body of Christ.
14. Awe, wonder, & worship
“Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.”
Psalm 86: 8-10
God is everything. He is Love. He is worthy of all our worship, awe, and wonder. Even nature cries out to praise Him!
When you keep your focus on God, your mind, body, and soul naturally want to shout out in worship. Your entire countenance turns to Christ, and others see this.
You become closer to God, closer to your purpose, closer to hope, and closer to joy.
I pray:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13
15. Growing gratitude for His blessings
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful”.
Colossians 3:15
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 107:1
It is our natural inclination to complain and grumble. We are human, but slowly, as we spend more and more time with God and see His hand in our lives and experience His grace firsthand, He transforms our hearts to be more and more grateful.
Thank God every day, all day.
- Every time you find food in your kitchen, thank God.
- Every time you have a comfortable spot to sit down, thank God.
- Every time you see a smile on your child’s face, thank God.
- Every time you make it safely to a destination, thank God.
16. Transformation & renewal of your mind and thought life
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Romans 12: 2
Renewing your mind and interpreting the meaning of life through God’s word are essential in the Bible. It is essential for keeping God close to you.
There is a mind, body, and soul connection that is vast and strong. What you think transforms what your body will experience and what your actions will be.
When you are in God’s presence, your mind begins to transform.
Keeping God close and dwelling in His presence will guide you to His desires, His purposes for you, and His love.
Renewing your mind will allow you to focus all your decisions on Him. It will become your first reaction to compare what you want and what you are to do with what God wants.
You will have the confidence that you are on the right path and gain the joy and peace God has to give you.
For more explanation and practical steps, you could also read What Does The Renewing of The Mind Look Like For Christians.
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