Psalm 105:4 (ESV) encourages us to, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.”

But what does that mean, practically? If God is omnipresent—always everywhere—how can we pursue what’s already there?

Let’s break it down with a simple analogy. Have you ever sat in a room full of people, and not noticed who’s just a few seats away? It doesn’t mean they weren’t there—it just means you weren’t aware. The same is true with God. We can be in the room and still miss His presence, just like Jacob did at Bethel when he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Genesis 28:16).

Being aware of God’s presence isn’t automatic—it’s intentional.

In Luke 19:41–44, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Why? Because they “did not recognize the time of God’s coming” (v.44). He wasn’t angry; He was heartbroken. He knew the destruction that would come from their blindness. It’s not that He wanted to punish them—it’s that they missed the blessing of His presence.

That’s why we need to learn to pursue and recognize His presence daily. Psalm 91:1 (NLT) promises, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God doesn’t want to be a weekend visitor in your life—He wants to be your permanent roommate. But that takes pursuit.

There are three levels of experiencing God’s presence:

  1. God’s Omnipresence – He is always with us. Psalm 139:7–10 reminds us there’s nowhere we can go to escape Him. Highs or lows, He’s there. But awareness is key.

  2. God’s Manifest Presence – This is when we see God move—healing, prophecy, tongues. These moments are evidence of God showing up in tangible ways. But it still requires us to personally press in and not rely solely on what others are experiencing.

  3. God’s Felt Presence – This is where it gets personal. It’s when you feel the atmosphere shift. Peace replaces anxiety. Strength replaces weakness. You may not have words for it, but your soul knows: God is here. And just one moment in His presence can change everything.

So how do we pursue His presence?

1. Through Worship

Worship isn’t just singing—it’s surrender. Psalm 22:3 says God is enthroned on the praises of His people. Our worship creates a place for God to dwell. True worship isn’t just musical, it’s sacrificial. In Genesis 22, the first mention of worship in the Bible is Abraham offering Isaac—his most precious treasure. That’s the heart of worship: reverence and sacrifice.

The Hebrew word “Shachah” means to bow or prostrate in homage. Worship is more than lyrics—it’s the posture of our heart. Like Abraham cried, “Do not pass your servant by” (Genesis 18:3), worship is us asking God to stay, not just visit.

But remember: Worship is for God, not us. We can’t manipulate His presence to fit our preferences. Just ask Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6—when David tried to bring the Ark back on his terms, things didn’t go well. Worship must be done God’s way, not ours.

2. Through Prayer

Prayer is how we communicate with God, and like any relationship, communication is key. The more we talk and listen to God, the closer we grow. Jesus modeled this beautifully—He prayed often, deeply, and personally. His disciples didn’t ask Him to teach them to perform miracles—they asked Him to teach them to pray.

Prayer isn’t about performance—it’s about presence. It’s how we align our hearts with His will (1 John 5:14), and it’s how God transforms us. As C.S. Lewis once said, “I pray because I can’t help myself… it doesn’t change God, it changes me.”

Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything… then you will experience God’s peace…” Prayer brings peace because it brings presence.

3. Through Gratitude

One final key: gratitude. “Thank Him for all He has done” (Philippians 4:6). Thankfulness opens the door to God’s presence. It shifts our focus off problems and back onto the Problem-Solver.

So here’s the challenge this week: Don’t just settle for knowing God is somewhere. Choose to be aware of Him here. He’s been pursuing you since before you were born. Now, He invites you to pursue Him back.

Because His presence isn’t just a perk of the Christian life—it’s the point. As Moses said, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here” (Exodus 33:15).

Let’s be a people who worship with reverence, pray with persistence, and thank God with passion—because God’s presence is our pursuit.