01/11/2026
01 NOVEMBER 2026
: BY PROPHET NHP
I greet everyone in the mighty name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
TOPIC: THE JOURNEY OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH [SERIES]
SUB-TITLE: THE PRESENCE OF GOD
It is very important for us, brethren, to understand the importance of God's presence in our lives. Spiritual growth is a journey, and the presence of God is at the centre of that journey. The moment you seek His presence and find it, you must learn to embrace it. No one can grow spiritually without the presence of God. Every born-again believer needs His presence in order to grow in the Spirit. Unfortunately, many people neglect God's presence because they believe they can manage things on their own. However, no one can successfully live the Christian life without the presence of God.
We cannot experience genuine spiritual growth without developing a personal relationship with God. If we desire to grow in the Spirit, we must remain connected to Him. When we read the Word of God, the Bible teaches us that God is Spirit. Therefore, if we desire to grow spiritually, we need His presence. Just as the body requires food for physical growth, our spiritual lives also require nourishment. From the day a child is born, there are different stages of development that the child must go through. The same way applies to our spiritual lives.
Spiritual growth requires commitment. No one can grow spiritually while neglecting the Word of God. Neither can anyone mature in the things of God without remaining in His presence. Remaining in His presence is essential to our spiritual development. The reason we see the disciples growing spiritually is that they remained under the authority and teaching of Jesus Christ. They followed Him and even asked Him to teach them how to pray.
They understood that spiritual growth required learning from the Master. If you want to grow spiritually, you must desire His presence. The presence of God carries power. The journey of spiritual growth is a journey of knowing God and drawing closer to Him. The Bible teaches us that when we draw near to God, He will also draw near to us. Fellowship with God and His presence bring power, glory and peace. His presence brings healing to our hearts and transforms our lives.
EXODUS 33:15
[15] And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
Moses said something significant to God."If Your presence does not go with me, do not send me from here." This statement reveals that Moses understood just how important God's presence was in his life. His focus was not on reaching the destination, his greatest concern was having the presence of God with him. He was not primarily concerned about the blessings, miracles or promises. His greatest desire was God's presence. He would rather remain where he was than move forward without God.
Every believer must reach a point where the presence of God becomes more important than anything else in life. You must be able to say, "I will not move without You, Lord." God's presence opens doors and guides us along the journey of life. Moses understood that moving forward without God was meaningless. He would rather remain where he was than continue the journey without God's presence. This teaches us that the presence of God is more important than the destination.
It is time for us to seek the presence of God. The Bible teaches us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us. God's presence is important to everyone who desires to know Him more. When you seek Him, even if He gives you nothing else, His presence should be enough for you.
Just as Moses declared, if God's presence would not go with them, he would rather remain where he was. Moses understood that he could not accomplish anything without God. Without God, you cannot succeed in your spiritual journey. The presence of God is essential for spiritual growth. No matter how blessed you are or how many possessions you have, you cannot experience genuine spiritual growth if you lack His presence. The presence of God is heaven to us.
We must never become so focused on the blessings that we forget the One who blesses us. Pride makes a person believe that they are powerful and capable on their own, but the truth is that we need God's presence every single day. Without His presence, we are vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. However, with His presence, we have the assurance that our God is a consuming fire. Nothing can stand against His power.
One of the reasons many people struggle in life is that they spend more time asking for blessings than seeking the One who gives those blessings. Before you ask God for a blessing, seek the Blesser. It is better to remain where you are than to move forward without God's presence. Moses was not speaking to an ordinary man; he was communicating with the Father. This was the same Moses who spent forty days on the mountain in the presence of God.
He spent those forty days communicating with God through prayer and fasting without eating food. The Bible tells us that when Moses came down from the mountain, the glory of God was upon him, and his face was shining. When you carry the presence of God, His glory must be evident in your life. The one who carries His presence carries His fire. Our God is a consuming fire, and His power is greater than anything that can come against us.
We need God's presence because it helps us understand His will and grow in the things of the Father. The Bible declares that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. His authority defeats the enemy and restores lives. The greatest achievement in your spiritual journey is not measured by what you possess or what you own, but by how deeply you know God.
LUKE 10:38–42
[38] Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
[39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
[40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
[41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
[42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
In this passage, we find the story of Martha and Mary, who welcomed Christ into their home. Martha was busy preparing and serving, and she had many responsibilities to attend to. Meanwhile, Mary made a different choice. She chose to sit at the feet of Christ and listen to the Word of God. Both sisters were in the presence of God because Christ was in the house, and Christ is God. When God is present, we should expect change, healing, restoration and peace.
We can be in the presence of God and still respond differently. Both sisters were in His presence, but their responses were not the same. One was busy preparing, while the other chose to sit and listen to His Word. They were both serving, but Mary understood the importance of sitting at the feet of Christ, drawing closer to Him and listening to the Word of the Father.
The Word of God is living, active and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. The Bible also teaches us not to be hearers of the Word only, but to become doers of it. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Mary deliberately chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, while Martha was distracted by many responsibilities. This story teaches us something important about our spiritual lives.
We can become so busy doing the work of God that we forget to spend time with Him. The presence of God must remain our priority. Both sisters were in His presence, but one was occupied with activities while the other positioned herself at His feet. Mary was hungry for the Word of God; she was thirsty for His presence. Martha, on the other hand, was busy serving.
Serving God is good and powerful, but the question is: Are you also making time to remain in His presence? Both sisters were serving, but they approached their service differently. A relationship with God is powerful. When you have a relationship with Him, you develop a deeper understanding of who He is and how He wants you to live. What enables you to serve God correctly is His presence.
In Martha's mind, what she was doing seemed right because she was busy serving, but Mary recognised the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus. When you live in His presence, you learn to choose peace above everything else. When you serve in His presence, you are not easily distracted or discouraged by what people say about you. Your relationship with God must always remain more important than the activities surrounding you.
The moment you are in His presence, your life must reflect His glory. The Bible tells us about Jacob, whose identity was changed after his encounter with God. God asked him, "What is your name?" and declared that his name would no longer be Jacob. The moment you are in Christ, your identity must change. When you are in Him, you become a new creation.
Those who carry His presence experience His power. With God, there is healing, deliverance and a solution for every situation. There was a man who sat beside the pool, waiting for the angel to come and stir the water. Whenever he tried to enter the pool, someone else would get ahead of him. He had been waiting for a long time, but his situation changed when Jesus came into his life.
When God steps into your situation, things cannot remain the same. His presence breaks chains and brings transformation. We must learn from Mary, who chose to remain at the feet of Jesus, listening attentively to His Word. We must understand that serving God is important, but spending time with Him is equally important. Mary positioned herself where she could receive directly from Christ.
Let us strive to maintain the presence of God continually in our lives, every single day. We must not become so occupied with the activities of life that we forget the importance of spending time with Him. Our desire must be to know Him, remain close to Him and continually grow in His presence.
JOHN 6:66–68
[66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
[67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
[68] Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
The Bible tells us that from that time, many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. They walked away from Jesus and abandoned the opportunity to remain with Him. There is a difference between the anointing and the presence of God. In the presence of God, we communicate with Him. It is a place of fellowship and communion with the Father.
We do not simply make noise we communicate with God. We must understand the importance of remaining in His presence and never allow anything to separate us from Him. Let us continually seek His presence, because our spiritual growth depends on our relationship with Him.
As we continue our journey of spiritual growth, let us make the presence of God our greatest desire. May we never become so occupied with seeking blessings that we forget the One who blesses us. Like Moses, may we reach a point where we can say, Lord, I will not move without Your presence.
Let us remain at His feet like Mary, hungry for His Word and thirsty for His presence. Remember, it is not about how far you go, but how deeply you know God. May we never lose His presence, because in His presence is where we find strength, peace, direction and true spiritual growth.
![01 NOVEMBER 2026 JOHN 4[21] “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father n...](https://img3.photlo.com/650/781/1458291316507819.jpg)
![01 NOVEMBER 2026 OF ENCOURAGEMENTBY: MINISTER E SONDLANA [DAUGHTER]I Greet everyone in the name of our Lord Jesus Chri...](https://img4.photlo.com/317/988/1458237353179882.jpg)
![01 NOVEMBER 2026 Mark 11[24] Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and ...](https://img4.photlo.com/652/302/1458139286523022.jpg)
