How to Bring God’s Presence Into Your Everyday

In 1904, Wales was a nation in crisis. There was crisis in families; it is said that one out of every ten people was an alcoholic. There was crisis in the streets; police recorded thousands of arrests every year related to drunkenness and violence. There was crisis in the workplace; mines were full of fighting, gambling and constant tension. Historians describe that period in Wales as spiritually cold, as churches were emptying and young people were not interested in God.

In the middle of that darkness, a young 26-year-old Welsh coal miner named Evan Roberts, felt his heart drawn towards God as the state of his country grieved him. He believed that if people turned their hearts towards God, they could invite the glory and presence of God into their nation and that something could change. So, he gathered a small group of young people in a little church and began the only way he knew how – with worship and prayer.

Nothing changed as they could tell at first, but as they continued to worship and pray night after night, God’s tangible presence, His glory, began to invade Wales. Bars began to empty and eventually shut down permanently, police had fewer arrests and then no arrests as crime dropped to zero, judges entered courtrooms to find no cases to try. In fact, police were asked what they were doing with no crime to address, and one officer famously responded, ‘We now sing in the choir.’

The churches began to fill up until eventually the same people that were fighting and cursing one another began to sing hymns in the street. The newspapers called it “The Outbreak”, and truly, God’s glory had broken through and changed a nation.

When Praise Goes up, Glory Comes Down

When God’s people worship, His presence draws near in a tangible and perceptible way. This Christmas season, our new series is called “Gloria”, which is what the angels sang when Jesus was born. Luke 2:13, 14 records that awesome encounter: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The first message Heaven sent to Earth was not a sermon, it was a song! And notice that before peace came to Earth, glory came down from heaven, because worship is a doorway through which we experience the glory of God.

Throughout the Bible, we can see the power worship has in bringing down God’s glory on Earth. In 2 Chronicles 20, God’s people were surrounded by three enemies. Instead of sending soldiers, King Jehoshaphat sent worshippers. As they sang, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever,” God’s glory came on the scene and Israel’s enemies became confused and turned on each other. Worship became the warfare God’s people used to secure victory.

In 1 Samuel 16, King Saul was tormented by fear, anxiety, and depression. But when young David came and played worship to the Lord on his harp, Scripture says Saul was refreshed, the distressing spirit left him, and peace came over his mind again. Worship brought healing to a broken heart and a troubled mind.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were beaten, chained and locked in a dark prison. Instead of using their voices to complain, they lifted up their voices in worship, and suddenly God’s glory caused the ground to shake, their chains to fall off and for the doors to open leading to their freedom!           

God Wants His Glory to Invade your Everyday

Christmas is a time of joy and family, but for many, it can be a time of grief as we remember loved ones long on and a time of loneliness especially for those who do not have family close. For some, it is a time of celebration. For others, it’s quiet rooms, empty chairs at the table, or memories that make the heart heavy. Stats tell us that 1 in 4 people struggle with loneliness during the holidays. If you are one of those of four, God wants His glory to invade your life. He wants His manifested presence to fill your home and your heart. And a key to this is, for this Christmas, make worship a priority.

Here are some practical ways to invite God’s glory into your everyday, through worship:

1. Turn your commute into worship

Before the noise of emails, work, school, and just life take over, take a few minutes to lift your heart to God. It could look like worship music in the car, or in your headphones while you commute, but as you do that, you will begin to sense the atmosphere shift as you set the tone for your fay in worship.

2. Make your home a place of worship

Play worship music softly as you cook, clean or wind down in the evening. You may be surprised how peace settles your home when praise fills the air.

3. Read a Psalm out loud each day

The Book of Psalms are filled with some of the most beautiful and powerful worship songs. Choose a short Psalm—like 23, 34, 46, or 100—and read it out loud in your living room or bedroom. When the Word is spoken, faith rises and God’s presence comes close.

There is no heaviness, anxiety, grief, or darkness that God’s manifested presence cannot break. When we worship, we are not just singing, we are welcoming the Prince of Peace into our lives, our homes, and our everyday. As we sing Gloria this Christmas, may God’s glory fill our workplaces, our cars, our kitchens, our bedrooms, and our hearts.