| In Your presence That's where I am strong In Your presence O Lord my God In Your presence That's where I belong Seeking Your face Touching Your grace In the cleft of the Rock In Your presence O God I want to go Where the rivers Cannot overflow me Where my feet are On the rock I want to hide Where the blazing Fire cannot burn me In Your presence O God I want to hide Where the flood of Evil cannot reach me Where I'm covered by the blood I want to be where The schemes of darkness Cannot touch me In Your presence O God | You are my firm foundation I trust in You all day long I am Your child And Your servant And You are my Strength and my song You're my song Seeking Your face Touching Your grace In the cleft of the Rock In Your presence O God In Your presence
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Even as I read the lyrics I imagine the voice of Paul Wilbur singing this song. But this song always reminds me that Jesus himself is the Rock--cleft for me. Being in the place of basking in God's presence as Believers is such a privilege. It is indeed a gift. A gift given and paid for by the Blood of the Lamb, the sacrifice our Lord Jesus gave of His life. For believers it is a safe place, a secure place, a secret place where our heart is open and vulnerable to the God who understands. He accepts us as we trust Him with our lives. But to non-Believers it could be a place of terror. If we refuse to trust Him, we will not allow Him access into our lives to protect and keep us.
I once had a vision of being squished into a cramped crack in a huge rock. The jagged edges poked my sides and felt like they would scrape my arms and legs. I was afraid to move, balancing my weight on first one part of my body and then another. I was unable to be comfortable, unable to sit or stand on anything or straighten fully. Looking out of the crack into brilliant light, the darkness behind me seemed to ooze out of the jagged places. But at the same time I knew that I was being hidden in a safe place. The brilliant light was my assurance of God's nearness. But while I was drawn to the light, I was also afraid that it would overwhelm me.
As I reflect on this experience I understand that even the uncomfortable place was part of His presence. He is light, but He dwells in thick darkness(Psalm 18)--He is there, He is everywhere--but in this case it wasn't that He was where I was, but I was where He was. Wow! My flesh was not comfortable, my soul felt fear of the unknown, both the penetrating darkness and the brilliant light at the same time. I was afraid to relax or even to move--YET, I knew I was safe!
The experience causes me to sing these words with a completely different perspective. I want to be in the cleft of the Rock! No matter how uncomfortable, I know it is a safe place and I can only get there as He places me there. Jesus, our Rock, the Living Word of God can be found as we diligently seek Him. This year spend as much time as you can seeking Him as you read His Word. You will be amazed as He reveals Himself as He has promised.
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
