Walking in God’s Presence Daily

Written by Pastor Leo T Mukumba

Theme Scripture: Leviticus 6:12–13; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Introduction

The greatest privilege any believer can have is to live each day in the presence of God. From Genesis to Revelation, the heartbeat of Scripture is that God desires to dwell with His people, not occasionally, not seasonally, but continually. His presence is life, joy, peace, and victory.

The Old Testament Temple was the visible reminder of this truth. Every measurement, every object, and every activities and ceremony pointed to one central message: God’s people are called to walk with Him daily.

In Leviticus 6:12–13, God gives a command to the priests:

“And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out.”

This continual fire was not only about ritual, it symbolized God’s continual presence among His people. And in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul brings it home for us in:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20:

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

In other words, the Temple in the Old Testament was a shadow. Today, you and I are the temple. The fire must still burn, not on a bronze altar, but in the heart of every believer. And that fire is kept alive when we live, worship, and pray in God’s presence daily.

1. The Outer Court

The Outer Court was the place of Sacrifice and Cleansing. The journey into God’s presence began in the Outer Court. Here stood the Altar of Burnt Offerings, where sacrifices were made to atone for sin, and the Bronze Basin, where priests washed before serving.

The priest entered through the eastern gate, symbolizing entering in God’s appointed way (John 10:9). He first approached the Altar of Burnt Offerings with the sacrifice brought by the people. This was not casual, the priest had to wear holy linen garments (Leviticus 6:10–11) and ensure the altar fire was already burning from the flame God had lit (Leviticus 9:24). After ministering at the altar, the priest was required to go to the Bronze Basin to wash hands and feet (Exodus 30:18–21). This washing was mandatory, failing to do so meant death.

The altar reminds us of the cross of Christ. It was lit by fire from the Lord Himself (Leviticus 9:24) and kept burning without ceasing. It was the place where the guilty were made right with God through the death of an innocent substitute. The basin speaks of cleansing, the washing away of impurity before stepping into deeper fellowship.

In our spiritual walk, the Outer Court is our starting point. We come to God through repentance, surrender, and cleansing by His Word and Spirit. But notice something important: The altar was public, and so was the basin. People came together to offer sacrifice and be cleansed. That is why coming to church matters, it’s where the altar experience is renewed, where together we confess, worship, and remember the sacrifice that makes us clean.

2. The Holy Place

From the Outer Court, the priests entered the Holy Place. The Holy Place was the place of Fellowship and Worship. Inside were the Golden Lampstand, Table of the Bread of the Presence, and Golden Altar of Incense.

• The Lampstand symbolized the light of the Holy Spirit guiding our service.

• The Bread of the Presence represented God’s continual provision. So we get into the Holy Place we experience continual provisions in Jesus Name.

• The Altar of Incense represented the prayers of God’s people rising before Him.

The Holy Place is where daily fellowship happened. The priests trimmed the lamps morning and evening, replaced the bread weekly, and burned incense continually.

Only priests who had been cleansed at the laver could step into the Holy Place. The entry was through the first veil, with great reverence, knowing they were now in a more sacred space. Inside, the priest tended the Lampstand by trimming wicks and adding pure olive oil daily (Exodus 27:20–21). He replaced the Bread of the Presence every Sabbath, eating the old bread in the Holy Place as prescribed (Leviticus 24:5–9). He burned incense on the Golden Altar every morning and evening, using fire taken from the altar in the Outer Court (Exodus 30:7–8). No strange fire was permitted (Leviticus 10:1–2).

This is the part of our walk where we learn to stay connected to God, not just on Sunday, but every day. This is why the daily morning prayer line is vital. Just as incense was kept burning without interruption, our prayers must continually rise before God. The prayer line keeps our lamps burning, our bread fresh, and our altar active. Without it, we risk letting the fire die down to sparks, glowing coal or residues.

3. The Holy of Holies

Finally, beyond the veil was the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant rested, with the Mercy Seat above it, and inside it the Tablets of the Law, Aaron’s Rod that Budded, and the Pot of Manna. The Mercy Seat and the golden cover over the Ark where blood was sprinkled. Above the Mercy Seat stood two golden cherubim, facing each other, their wings outstretched and touching, overshadowing the Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:18–20). These cherubim were not decorative ornaments, they were symbolic of the heavenly angels of God’s throne. Throughout Scripture, cherubim are associated with the glory and holiness of God (Ezekiel 10:18–20; Revelation 4:6–8). Their posture over the Mercy Seat spoke of God’s majesty, His holiness, and His readiness to meet His people in mercy. The Holy of Holies was the Place of God’s Manifest Presence, Throne and Atonement.

Only the High Priest entered here, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of atonement (Leviticus 16). He had to wash fully at the laver, put on special linen garments, and offer sacrifices for his own sins first. He carried the blood of the sin offering and incense into the Holy of Holies. The incense created a cloud over the Mercy Seat, symbolizing reverence and covering (Leviticus 16:12–13). He sprinkled the blood on and before the Mercy Seat seven times to atone for the sins of the nation. This was the place of God’s manifest glory, His throne room on earth. The veil was a barrier until Jesus died, and it was torn in two (Matthew 27:51), giving us direct access to God’s presence.

Our Holy of Holies moments happen when we worship deeply, pray earnestly, and walk in holiness. This is where God’s presence transforms us. But those moments are built on the daily patterns of the Outer Court and Holy Place — on consistent sacrifice, cleansing, fellowship, and prayer.

4. The Fire in Every Stage

• Outer Court: Fire of Sacrifice which signifies repentance and surrender.

• Holy Place: Fire of Fellowship which signifies daily prayer and Spirit-led living.

• Holy of Holies: Fire of Atonement which signifies intimate communion with God.

Leviticus 6 makes it clear: The fire must never go out. It must be tended morning and evening. And today, the same principle applies, the fire in our hearts must be fed through worship, the Word, prayer, and fellowship.

5. Walking in God’s Presence Daily

Walking in God’s presence daily is not about occasional spiritual highs. It is about a constant, intentional lifestyle:

• Faithful in corporate worship: That means coming to church regularly.

• Persistent in prayer: This implies joining the daily prayer line to keep the incense rising.

• Committed to holiness: This means living as God’s temple, glorifying Him in body and spirit.

The fire God started in your life at salvation must be guarded. Ashes must be removed. Fresh wood, the Word of God, must be added daily. The oil of the Spirit must keep your lampstand burning. And the incense of prayer must keep rising before His throne.

Conclusion

Beloved, God’s presence is not meant for a few moments on a Sunday; it is for every day of your life. The temple shows us the pattern: Begin at the altar, walk through the Holy Place, and dwell in the Holy of Holies. Keep the fire burning, keep the prayers rising, and keep walking with Him.

The same God who filled the temple with glory in the days of Moses and Solomon wants to fill your life today. Let us be a people or church where the fire never goes out, where we walk in His presence daily, in our homes, on our jobs, in our prayer meetings, and in our worship services.

God bless you

Pastor Leo T Mukumba