The Presence is a Higher Reality
“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.”
—Psalm 27:6
From political chaos, cultural confusion, to exposure in the church—the world feels like it’s shaking on every level. The one thing that anchors you to peace in the midst of the storms is the Presence of God. His Presence is a higher reality; meaning, it’s a place where you aren’t clouded by the chaos of the world around you, you live above it.
People may ask:
What are you going to do about _______________(and name a current conflict)?
I’m gonna be with Jesus.
I’m gonna keep preaching Jesus.
I’m gonna do my best to model Jesus.
It’s not that we ignore current events, but we don’t let them lead the narrative.
If we need to address things because it impacts our spheres of influence, then by all means, go for it.
But why get caught up in fights that aren’t your own?
There’s a way to live above the storms while still living on the earth:
When you prioritize the Presence of God, it anchors you to a higher reality.
A Look At David
Have you ever wondered why David wasn’t shaken by the taunting of Goliath?
Read the full story in 1 Samuel 17, but before David defeated Goliath, he said a few things that suggest he was in a different headspace than the rest of Israel.
“For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
—David, 1 Samuel 17:26
While everyone is shaking in their armor, David is wondering why they tolerated Goliath in the first place!
Then David says to King Saul:
“Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
—1 Samuel 17:36-37
He wasn’t shaken by Goliath like everyone else was…he was provoked! He wanted to shut this giant up!
How did he get that perspective?
While Israel was on the battlefield, listening to a giant degrade them for 40 days, David was spending time in the Presence of God and being faithful with his father’s sheep.
How do I know that?
He was found as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:22). That’s who he was before the battle with Goliath ever came to be.
As a man after God’s own heart, he began to carry God’s heart.
People who spend time with God have a different perspective than the rest of the world.
Learn David’s Strategy
David shows us his strategy in Psalm 27.
If you read the context of the psalm, it’s a bit of a warfare song. He mentions things like the Lord is His salvation, he doesn’t need to fear anyone, even though an army comes against him or a war breaks out against him, he will still prevail.
But then he gives us this gem:
“One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.”
—Psalm 27:4 NIV
His priority was the Presence of God!
And the following verses tell us the result:
“For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me…”
—Psalm 27:5-6
The result of being with God is not only that God would hide him in His Presence, but that David’s head would be lifted up above his enemies.
His perception would rise above the enemies.
See the progression:
Prioritize the Presence
Be lifted above your enemies
This is why he wasn’t moved by Goliath’s taunting—he was in a higher reality.
This is how you will overcome your enemies as well.
When the world, or even your own circumstances, are chaotic—run to the Presence of God. His Presence will elevate you to a higher reality.
It doesn’t make all your problems go away, but it does elevate your perspective.
It doesn’t remove all your enemies, but it does take the sting out of their words.
Instead of running away from your giant, you’ll have the courage to run after your giant.
Why? Because you’ve been with God.
And if God is for you, who can be against you?
Worshippers Get Clarity from God’s Presence
One of the worship leaders David appointed was named Asaph.
In Psalm 73, he writes about the prosperity of the wicked and his frustration with it. He essentially asks the question—“How are the wicked prospering, while I’m over here serving God and not prospering?!”
Maybe you’ve felt like that as well. Or maybe you’ve had other frustrations in life.
Asaph says something powerful in verses 16-17:
“When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.”
He took a step into the sanctuary, and his perspective shifted.
Clarity came from God’s Presence.
It’s like a relief came over his soul when he drew near to God. He saw his circumstance with a heavenly perspective. He closed his psalm by saying, “It is good for me to draw near to God…” (verse 28)
Praising people are Presence people. The pathway to God’s Presence is praise.
Whether you sing in a ministry or sing in your home, be a praiser. God dwells in praise; His Presence manifests in praise.
This is who David and Asaph were, and they had a change in the Presence of God.
Seek the Lord at all Times
David turned to God at all times. God was his refuge.
In contrast, David’s grandson, Rehoboam, did not seek the Lord.
“He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.”
—2 Chronicles 12:14 NIV
He didn’t do evil because there was evil all around him; He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord!
Putting yourself in the Presence of God sets you up for success.
I recently read an email from pastor Carey Nieuwhof where he encouraged readers to “keep going through the motions.” Usually, we tell people we’re leading to not go through the motions…but in this case, he was encouraging the opposite.
He said:
“I'm really grateful that sometimes I kept going through the motions. It's what kept me from walking away from the faith and ministry. And sometimes I'm thankful I just sang another song, because I actually kept singing even when I didn't feel like it…
Eventually, your emotions catch up to your obedience…
The willingness to show up day after day remains one of the keys to long-term faithfulness—and to effective leadership.”
I thought, wow, what a great perspective.
Nobody just doesn’t go to work because they don’t feel like it. They do it because they need that work to pay the bills.
So, keep showing up! Keep going after God!
Whether you feel it or not.
By consistently putting yourself in the Presence of God, you are elevating your normal.
What Now?
Practically -
Create a daily place to meet with God
Choose consistency over feelings
Stay in Presence environments (go where God’s Presence is honored—church, worship nights, etc)
When you prioritize the Presence of God, it anchors you in a higher reality.
Question: How have you seen God's Presence shift your perspective?