DWELLING IN DIVINE PRESENCE

“SURELY the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall DWELL in YOUR PRESENCE” – Psalm 140:13

A Master Key to Victory in life is DWELLING in DIVINE PRESENCE: “SURELY the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall DWELL in YOUR PRESENCE” (Psa.140:13). God’s Presence is the ultimate Courtroom where battles our are won and our safety is permanently guaranteed. The word “surely” denotes an absolute truth. The outcome of our trial is not up for debate. With an uninterrupted lifestyle of residing in God’s direct Presence, we would triumphantly give thanks. While the enemy may plot behind closed doors, slander our character, or set traps for our feet, Satan’s power is totally broken in the Presence of our King – our ultimate Defence against evil!

Facing people who actively oppose us, hidden traps, or malicious gossip designed to ruin our reputation, it’s easy to become consumed by stress. Anxiety tempts us to fight back in the flesh – to trade insult for insult, or waste our sleep overthinking how to self-protect from the cruelty of the wicked. David found himself overwhelmed by this kind of intense hostility. His enemies were violent people who sharpened their tongues like serpents and hid ropes and nets to trip his feet. He did not minimize the danger, but he refused to panic. Instead of trying to fix the problem through human manipulation, he headed into the courtroom of heaven, concluding his urgent prayer with this absolute declaration of Victory: “...The upright shall dwell in Your presence” (v.13).

First, David unveiled the blueprint of hostility – words and secret schemes of the enemy to try to shake our peace (vv.1-3). Next, the strategies of traps, snare, and nets were laid along his path to throw his steps off balance (vv.4-5). Ultimately, he shifted from talking about the enemy’s devices to affirming the Divine Presence as the Secure and Permanent Address of the Upright. While the wicked plot on the earth, the upright is safely housed in Divine Presence; the fortified Palace where we dwell, not just visit occasionally for help! When we make His Presence our home, thanksgiving becomes our natural language. No matter how deep the trap or how loud the slander, the enemy cannot touch us when hidden inside the Presence of the Strength of our Salvation Who covers our head in the day of battle (vv.6-8).

Psalm 31:20 says, “You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.” Invoking the Law of Divine Return, David asked that the mischief of his enemies' lips cover them, and that burning coals fall upon them (vv.9-11). Conscious of the guarantee of Justice, he declared that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted and execute justice for the poor (v.12). Rest comes when we realize that God has set up a spiritual law where evil traps capture their builders.

In Jesus’ Name, I affirm that:

I am completely delivered from evil, violent, and chaotic schemes. My head is fully covered and protected by God in every day of battle.

Every trap, net, and snare set against my life is exposed and destroyed. Backed by Heaven’s Justice, I break free from the fear of man.

I will not waste my energy fighting critics for the Lord is maintaining my cause. Slander and evil reports have no legal footing over my destiny.

My permanent address is the protective Presence of Almighty God; hence, my mouth is filled with immense thanksgiving to His Name.