How to Prepare for God's Presence

We all have a deep desire to belong to something that matters. David knew that what was coming was worth pouring his life into—not only his own life, but also the lives of his people. How do you prepare your life for a great work of God in your time?

If God is going to do something massive in your lifetime—and He will—you don’t want to be left behind. It’s time to catch up to what God is doing in the world.

In 1 Chronicles 29, what made the work great was the goal of the work. The building of the Temple was the place where God would dwell. When His glory filled the Temple, the holiness was so overwhelming that people fell to the ground in worship. The goal of the work was to host the presence of God. Today, we don’t go to a Temple, because God’s Spirit dwells in us. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16, we are now the temple of God.

To prepare yourself to participate in a mighty work of God, you must give yourself freely to Him. Jesus gave Himself freely on our behalf and in our place. He went first, offering His life for ours. David modeled this when he gave generously from his material wealth, putting himself in a position to be fully available for God’s use. But Jesus went further. He didn’t just provide resources—He became the very foundation of our salvation. As Ephesians 2:19-22 says, Jesus is our chief Cornerstone. He holds everything together, and we are being built into the Temple of God. We are living stones, built upon Him.

Just as Jesus gave Himself willingly and freely, we come to Him in the same way. He will not force you to accept Him. You come freely—not out of guilt or manipulation, but by willingly surrendering to Him.

The next step is to consecrate yourself fully. In 1 Chronicles 29:5, David asks, “Who then will offer themselves willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?” To consecrate means to “fill your hands” to the Lord—to gather everything you have and are, and bring it before Him.

A New Testament picture of this is the widow who gave her two coins as an offering. Though her gift amounted to only a penny, Jesus said she gave more than anyone else. Why? Because she gave everything she had. Her offering cost her far more than the abundance others contributed. She consecrated herself fully to the Lord. In the same way, Romans 12:1 calls us to present our whole selves as a living sacrifice, fully surrendered to God.

So how do you consecrate yourself to God? Through your posture, your purity, and your perspective.

• Posture: open-handed surrender, not self-confidence.

• Purity: giving with your whole heart, holding nothing back.

• Perspective: remembering, as 1 Chronicles 29:14 says, that all things come from the Lord.

Finally, we rejoice fiercely. In 1 Chronicles 29:9, the people rejoiced because they had given wholeheartedly and freely to the Lord. There is a deep joy that comes from joining in God’s work—a happiness that flows from holiness.

But joy is not passive; it’s hard-fought. If you want it, you must press in and pursue it. We are called to be fierce in our pursuit of God’s Kingdom and His presence. And once you’ve tasted His joy, you hold on to it with everything you’ve got.

So give yourself freely. Consecrate yourself fully. And rejoice in the great work God is going to do in your time.