Paul Wilbur - In Your Presence Lyrics
Lyrics
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
Video
In Your Presence by Paul Wilbur
Meaning & Inspiration
"In Your Presence," a powerful declaration of faith from Paul Wilbur's 2002 album *Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem*, is far more than just a worship song; it’s a profound theological statement woven into a tapestry of yearning and steadfast devotion. The core of the song revolves around the concept of divine refuge and the transformative strength found exclusively in the nearness of God. Wilbur articulates a deeply human desire for security and belonging, articulating that true strength, where he "belongs," is found not in worldly fortifications but in the very essence of God's presence. This sentiment echoes the Psalmist's cry in Psalm 27:4, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." The lyrics paint vivid imagery of finding shelter, a place where the overwhelming forces of life and evil lose their power. The desire to be where "rivers cannot overflow me" and "my feet are on the rock" speaks to a longing for stability that transcends transient circumstances, mirroring the promise in Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
The imagery of hiding "where the blazing fire cannot burn me" and where "the flood of evil cannot reach me" points directly to the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice. This is explicitly articulated in the line, "Where I'm covered by the blood," a direct allusion to the cleansing and protective power of Jesus' atonement. This resonates with the prophetic vision in Revelation 7:14, where the great multitude are those who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The song powerfully conveys that in God's presence, one is shielded from the "schemes of darkness," a concept deeply rooted in Ephesians 6:11, which urges believers to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." Wilbur declares God as his "firm foundation," a trust that endures "all day long," a sentiment that is a cornerstone of biblical faith, reminding us of Jesus’ parable in Matthew 7:24-25 about building one’s house on the solid rock of obedience to His words. The concluding lines reaffirm this intimate relationship, identifying himself as God's child and servant, finding in Him his "strength and my song." This personal connection and dependence are the very heart of a vibrant spiritual life, a testament to the ultimate source of all hope and power, found not in fleeting triumphs but in the eternal embrace of God's presence.