One of the greatest promises of our heavenly Father is the promise to lead His children.  He leads us through rough places at times but we have no fear because of His abiding presence.

And He [God] said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he [Moses] said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.  Exodus 33:12-15

We should follow the heart of Moses and say, "If your presence does not go with me I will not go."  We must flatly refuse to go anywhere the presence of God isn't leading us to go.  Sometimes in the crisis times in our lives we desire the leading of the Holy Spirit.  But too often when things are cruising along and life is fine and dandy we say in effect, "I think I'm big enough to handle this on my own, Lord."

The abiding presence of God must lead us moment by moment in the critical decisions and in our everyday life.  Beware that you don't become like Samson.  "And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." Judges 16:20

In His presence is fullness of Joy.  If your joy is missing then His presence is missing, and your strength is missing for His joy is your strength.  Don't move forward until you get this straightened out. 

Praise attracts His presence.  Even in jail Paul and Silas could praise the Lord.  They were being led by the Spirit.  It didn't feel like it at the time but they were exactly where God wanted them.  Their praise brought His presence and His presence set them free and not only Paul and Silas, but "suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."  Even the jailer and his family got set free that night.

Lord, I'm not going anywhere without Your presence.