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I experienced God’s presence for the first time when I went to a Christian Women’s retreat a few years ago with New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. It was such a wonderful experience that I often have a hard time explaining it to people when they ask me what we did that was so great. When I tell them that we spent most of the weekend in Praise and Worship and prayer sessions, they often get this puzzled look on their faces.

For those who were there, they know immediately what was so wonderful about that weekend.  It was the whole atmosphere. There hundreds of women all gathered together.  Everyone had a positive and loving spirit. Just seeing all these loving people gathered in one place strengthened my faith, and everything else took it to unheard of levels.

I grew up in a baptist church, so I’ve seen people get the Holy Ghost countless of times, so much so, that it wasn’t a major event. But what I hadn’t seen was so many people praise and worship God in such a concentrated way that I think I felt God’s presence enter the room.  It was a warm comforting feeling of overwhelming love.  My soul responded with overwhelming joy and gratitude.  I couldn’t do anything except cry tears of joy.

In church, when people see you crying, they immediately want to come and hug you or give you a tissue.  They want to comfort you because they assume you’re in pain.  But these tears were the complete and extreme opposite of pain and I’m so glad no one came over to interupt the experience. It was most excellent.

There have been so many times in my life when I’ve felt so far from God, so whenever I need a rejuvenation, I think on that retreat and what it was that enabled me to feel God’s presence so completely.  I think on what Cynthia Turner, one of that year’s speakers, said about worship. She referred to the scripture that talks about worshipping in spirit and in truth.  In order to get authentic worship, it has to come from within.  Sometimes you have to isolate yourself from the outside world like we did that whole weekend so that you can hear from God from within.  Then for it to be true worship, it has to be authentic – not altered or based on anything but that desire to give God all the credit for everything. It goes beyond thanks – because thanks is praise and praise is based on what God has done.  Worship is based on who God is and is unconditional.  I think of the song, “I worship you, because of who you are.” True worship is like that. It’s an acknowledgement of the fact that God is in total control of everything and in Him I put total trust.

If you’ve never felt God’s presence, or if you’re in need of a renewal so that you can experience it again, I encourage you to take some time, a day or a few hours and devote it to spending time with God. Don’t answer the phone, the door, email. Don’t turn on the television.  Instead, turn on your favorite Christian music, sing along, and let it minister to you.  Then humble yourself by getting on your knees, and instead of praying “please do this for me, God” prayers, praise Him for all that he has already done for you, then Worship Him, thank Him for being God. Thank Him for being in control, for sending Jesus Christ, for His grace and mercy, for a new chance to give Him the honor and the glory.  And then be still… and abide in His sweet and holy presence.

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