Experiencing God's Presence #152

The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5:14

Holy moments with God are often more than just a “quiet time” that passes when the allotted time is up. If there’s a real encounter or an ongoing conversation, agendas have to be reset. A relationship with God can’t fit into a schedule. He’s more than an appointment on the calendar. When He shows up in a holy moment, the moment has to last as long as He wants it to.

We wouldn’t want it otherwise, of course. No one truly engaged in a God-moment would prefer to get on with the daily routine or the to-do list. When we meet with God and something powerful happens, there can be no desire to disengage and say, “Okay, time’s up.” We can’t walk casually away from holy ground. We live for such moments.

When you meet with God and expect His Presence, hold all agendas loosely. There’s no need for that if you expect a routine relationship, but if you hope to encounter an unpredictable God however He chooses, you have to consider the possibilities. And those possibilities include getting lost in conversation with Him and losing track of time, services lasting longer than expected, or new guidance that radically redirects your day. Or you may just get overwhelmed and be ruined for anything else you had planned. When God shows up, all eyes are on Him. And when His glory fills a temple—like your heart—that’s how it should be.

Lord, if You want to rearrange my day, You have my full cooperation. In fact, I invite You to do that however You choose. An encounter with You is worth changing plans or even getting behind. Fill me with Yourself and lead me wherever and whenever You will.

From the book