To live coram Deo means living before the face of God—under His authority, in His presence, and for His glory. It’s a simple phrase, but it carries a weighty, deeply biblical truth: there is no part of life that falls outside of God’s sight or lordship. Not even the ordinary, seemingly unseen moments of daily life.
As Psalm 139 reminds us, there is nowhere we can go where God is not already present. We don’t step in and out of His gaze. Whether we’re gathered with the church or alone in quiet temptation, joy, or weariness, we live continually before Him. That reality should humble us—but it should also greatly comfort us.
Coram Deo flows from a right understanding of who God is. He is not distant or disengaged, but the sovereign Lord who rules all things according to the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11). This means there is no spiritual neutral ground. Every thought, word, and action is lived either in faithful submission to God or in resistance against Him.
At the same time, living before God’s face is not about anxious performance or earning His approval. That burden has already been carried by Christ. For those who are in Him, justification is settled—by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Romans 5:1). The God before whom we stand is the same God who has declared us righteous in His Son. Because of that, coram Deo becomes a place of security, not fear. We are free to live honestly before God, without hiding, pretending, or striving to prove ourselves.
This truth reshapes the everyday rhythm of life. Work becomes an act of stewardship rather than mere obligation. Church membership is not optional or consumer-driven, but a covenant commitment before Christ, the Chief Shepherd. Even suffering takes on new meaning when we remember that our trials are neither random nor unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16–18).
Living coram Deo also loosens the grip of our fear of fellow man. When we remember that we live first and foremost before God, human approval loses its controlling power. Faithfulness matters more than popularity. Obedience matters more than applause. As Proverbs 29:25 reminds us, the fear of man lays a snare, but trusting the Lord brings freedom and safety.
Ultimately, coram Deo points us back to our chief end: the glory of God. The Christian life is not divided into sacred and secular compartments, but lived wholly and consciously before God’s face. All of life—every decision, every conversation, every quiet moment—is an opportunity to live in grateful obedience to the God who sees us, knows us, and has redeemed us in Christ.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, thank You that You see me, know me, and love me in Christ. Help me to live coram Deo—before Your face—in every thought, word, and action. Free me from the fear of man, strengthen me to obey You faithfully, and guide me to glorify You in all I do. May my life reflect Your grace, mercy, and truth, so that in every moment, I live wholly for You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Dawn Zauner 