How can I stand in God's presence if I have no merit of my own?
No one can appear before God based on personal merit. A believer can stand in His presence covered with the righteousness of Christ, because God's righteousness has been imputed and placed upon him when he believed. God sees Christ's righteousness, not the believer's own merit, as the basis for standing before Him.
Les teaches that Isaiah describes being clothed with the garments of salvation and covered with God's righteousness, and he connects that with Romans 3:23 and righteousness imputed and placed upon us when we believed. Once a person believes, God covers him with His righteousness. The world cannot see that righteousness, but God does; God looks on the believer and sees Christ in His righteousness rather than the individual by name. Les says he would never dare stand in God's presence on his own merit, nor would anyone else, but the believer can stand there covered with the righteousness of Christ. This believing unto righteousness is the true aspect of salvation; the believer is made what God has proclaimed him to be, and confession with the mouth follows unto salvation. If a person is excited about what God has done, he will share it, though not necessarily before 300 people. The Scripture also says whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.