I often hear Christians talk about “getting into the presence of the Lord.” When saying that, they are usually talking about getting into God’s presence as a result of their worship, fasting, praying, or reading their Bible. I understand the sentiment, and I believe it ravishes God’s heart when we make His presence a priority. I also think that the idea of “getting into the presence of the Lord” grieves His heart somewhat because being in the presence of the Lord is something Jesus has already accomplished for us. The truth is, because of our union with Christ, we have been permanently, as a free gift, brought into the fellowship of the Trinity, where we now dwell.
John 14:20 says, “In that day (Pentecost) you will know (know as an experience) that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
Jesus dwells in the heart of the Father (intimate, interior, intermingled fellowship). “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” – John 1:18.
Jesus said that He was in the Father, and we are in Him; therefore, we too dwell in intimate fellowship, through Christ, with the Father, and by the way, also the Holy Spirit. We don’t pray to get into the presence of God. We pray from the presence of God. We don’t fast or worship to get into the presence of God. We start there! We fast and worship in the presence of God. When I read my Bible, I’m already seated in Christ in the heavenly places. I read my Bible, pray, and worship while dwelling in the bosom of the Father.
“For we have died, and our life is hidden with Christ IN God.” Colossians 3:3. We don’t have to strive or work our way into God’s presence. We already abide there. We simply need to open the eyes and ears of our hearts and start enjoying our new position in Christ. As we do, we will obviously cultivate a renewed mind consciousness of that reality and become so heavenly-minded that we will be more earthly good than we’ve ever been before.