INCREASING OUR AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE

Nathan Kliewer, Executive Pastor of Ministry

One of the greatest gifts of following Jesus is knowing that He Himself dwells with us and in us. When we gave our lives to Jesus, we weren’t saved into a list of formulas or religious checklists. We were saved into a relationship with a Person — reconciled to the Father, united with Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. That reality changes everything.

Psalm 16:11 declares, “In Your presence there is fullness of joy.” Paul reminds us in Colossians 1 that the mystery of the ages has been revealed: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” God is not distant. He is here. The challenge is not whether God is present, but whether we are aware of His presence in the middle of our ordinary, everyday lives.

Like anything in the kingdom, awareness of His presence can grow. We can cultivate attentiveness. We can lean in with hunger, thankfulness, and intentionality until His nearness becomes the atmosphere we live in.

Below are six ways to increase your awareness of His presence, shaped by Scripture and the wisdom of those who have walked closely with the Lord.

1. Hunger for More

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). Hunger draws us closer to Him. When we refuse to settle for spiritual mediocrity, we give God room to expand our hearts. John 15 paints the picture of a fruitful life: abiding in the vine, remaining connected to the presence of Christ. Fruitfulness is not produced by our own effort, but by abiding. Yet abiding requires hunger — a longing to stay connected, to press in, to seek Him first.

A practical step: Write down 5 areas of your life where you long to see greater fruit if you lived with a deeper awareness of His presence. Dream with God about the breakthroughs He wants to bring. Let your hunger fuel your prayers and your pursuit of Him.

2. Cultivate Thankfulness

Thankfulness is a key that opens the door to greater awareness. Zechariah 4:10 reminds us, “Do not despise the day of small beginnings.” Jesus Himself demonstrated this when He gave thanks for a small boy’s lunch — and God multiplied it to feed thousands. What we thank God for increases in our lives. When we pause to thank Him for even the smallest signs of His presence — a moment of peace, a glimpse of joy, the comfort of His Word — we train our hearts to notice Him more.

A practical step: Begin your prayer times by thanking God for three things He has already given you. Don’t rush. Let gratitude fill your heart, and you’ll discover His presence feels closer than you realized.

3. Remember Immanuel — God With Us

God’s desire has always been to dwell with His people. From the garden to the tabernacle, from the incarnation of Jesus to the sending of the Spirit, His heart is for nearness. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Awareness of His presence grows as we meditate on His desire to be with us. Too often, our minds fill with unworthiness or lies of disqualification. But Christ has made us worthy through His sacrifice. Just as a marriage is more than a certificate on the wall, our relationship with God is meant to be lived out in daily fellowship and shared experiences.

A practical step: When negative or unworthy thoughts come, pause and ask God, “What is the truth in Christ?” Replace lies with His promises. Whisper to your own heart: He wants to be with me.

4. Friendship with the Holy Spirit

Jesus promised another Helper — the Holy Spirit — who would guide us into all truth (John 14:16–17; 16:13). The Spirit is not a “force” or an “influence”, but a Person. Friendship with Him is the gateway to deeper encounters with God’s presence. Many of us talk freely to the Father or to Jesus, but forget that the Spirit lives in us right now. He empowers, anoints, comforts, and reveals. Every time you sense the presence of Jesus, it is through the Spirit’s ministry.

A practical step: Begin to acknowledge the Holy Spirit in your daily routines. Talk to Him. Ask Him what is on His heart. Invite Him into ordinary moments like driving, working, or walking. Awareness deepens when we recognize His companionship.

5. Welcome Encounters

Encounters with God are not rare exceptions, but invitations into the fullness of our redemption. Jeremiah 33:3 declares, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

An encounter may be as simple as a verse coming alive by the Spirit’s “highlighter,” a surge of peace during prayer, or a fresh insight in worship. Each encounter is an access point — a reminder that heaven touches earth in Christ. The key is not striving, but openness. We don’t dictate how God meets us; we make space, stay thankful, and let Him lead.

A practical step: The next time you sense His presence, pause before moving on. Ask Him, “Lord, is there more You want to show me?” Let gratitude flow and see how He deepens the encounter.

6. Live a Lifestyle of Worship

Worship tunes our hearts to the reality of God’s nearness. When we worship — not just in song, but in daily posture — we shift our focus from ourselves to Him. Romans 12:1 calls us to, “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Living worshipfully means surrendering our routines, our work, and even our struggles as offerings to Him. Worship aligns our hearts with His presence and makes us more aware of His glory around us.

A practical step: Build rhythms of worship into your week beyond Sunday gatherings. Sing in the car, pray at your desk, or take a walk just to thank Him. The more we worship, the more we notice His nearness.

Conclusion: Breaking Off “Normal”

I have heard it said that “we need to break off the shelf of normal.” I love this! Once we have tasted God’s presence, there’s no going back to life without Him. Normal Christianity is not distant, dry, or theoretical. Normal Christianity is living aware of the God who loves us, walks with us, and speaks to us daily. The journey of increasing awareness of His presence is not about chasing feelings but about cultivating hunger, thankfulness, intimacy, openness, and worship.

As we lean into these practices, we find ourselves living in what Psalm 16:11 promised: fullness of joy in His presence.

So today, ask yourself:

• Where am I hungering for more of Him?

• What can I thank Him for right now?

• How can I notice His presence in the ordinary moments of my day?

The God of creation is with you. He is closer than your breath. May your awareness of His presence increase, until encounters with Him are not occasional, but the very atmosphere of your life.