Make me know your presence Lord, the King of Glory here.
You know each thought and action, hope, anxiety and fear.
How can I hide from Thee? Can darkness hide iniquity?
Oh how can I unfaithful be, when You are very near to me?
When God is near, all the world seems far away.
When God is near, every fear is set aside.
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I’ll stay upon the altar, I know my God is near.
Make me know Your presence Lord, when I feel so alone.
You know each trial and testing pain, the hurt that is unknown.
Oh, why can I not see Your hand so firmly guiding me?
Oh how can I untrusting be, when You are very near to me?
When God is near, all the world seems far away.
When God is near, every fear is set aside.
When God is near, how can I stray? How can I falter?
I’ll stay upon the altar, I know my God is near.
~ Mac Lynch, The Wilds Christian Camp
James 4:8: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
You know, at first I just started to put the first half of that Bible verse, because it sounds so warm and cozy and secure, but the second half is a part of drawing nigh to God. Thank God that we can be made clean:
I John 1:5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I don’t know who these folks are, but this is a nice rendition of this song:
May God be very near you today.
Stray Thoughts 
…and as my husband often says, “If God is not near, guess who moved?”
Diane just took my line … it is true though. God doesn’t turn away from us. We turn away from him.
True, but I hope we don’t just brush off the message of the song with that thought.
Thank you for posting this. I happened on this while studying for a sermon on prayer. It was a true blessing and this song is great. When God is near all the world seems far away. Let’s shut worldly thoughts and worries out and approach the throne of Grace.
Thanks so much for sharing, Rick..
Pingback: Favorite Posts of 2016 | Stray Thoughts
hi where i can find the piano sheet of this song please, thank you.
I have no idea, but since it came from the Wilds Christian Camp, you might look through their store or write to them and ask about it. The link to them is in the post above, under the song lyrics.
Hi, is it possible to ask for the liano piece if this song? Thank you.
I do not have it.