READ: Ephesians 5:15-21
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; … Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” – Ephesians 5:18-21
One of the fastest ways to lose the presence of God is to criticize and to complain. The opposite of praise is criticism. You can lose the presence of God by being critical, murmuring and speaking evil. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10:9 10
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Numbers 14:26-29
On the other hand a grateful spirit and a thankful heart is key to experiencing the presence of God. Those who have a thankful spirit have the presence of God. Those who praise God and worship Him have the presence of God. Starting a service with praises and worship is a wellknown key to entering into an atmosphere of the presence of God.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalms 100:4