Experiencing God's Presence #57

Experiencing God's Presence #57

I am filled with the LORD’s fury.

Jeremiah 6:11

The Presence of God in Jeremiah prompted fury. The Presence in Ezekiel stirred up anger and bitterness (Ezekiel 3:14). The Presence in Jesus provoked anger at harsh judgments and a volatile reaction to religious exploitation (Mark 3:5; John 2:14-16). In every case, the servant reflected the heart of the Father. Apparently the passion of God isn’t always comfortable.

We tend to think being godly involves only positive, peaceful emotions, but God gets angry at injustice, hypocrisy, and anything that harms His people. That anger isn’t sinful, obviously; God is without sin. In fact, true love demands it. Passion for someone implies passion against anything that hurts that someone. That means that if we experience God’s Presence and sense His heartbeat, we’ll be bothered by the same things that bother Him. We’ll develop a godly anger at anything that violates His Kingdom.

Don’t direct that anger at people—God loves even the most wounded, misguided, distorted souls—but don’t render your godly anger impotent by calling it sin. Anything that contradicts God’s Kingdom or His character should become the subject of our prayers. We are invited to exercise spiritual authority over all manner of darkness and even exhibit a certain hostility toward the spirits behind that darkness. The Presence of the Lord often prompts the fury of the Lord, and there’s nothing ungodly about it.

In your prayers, take aim at anything that doesn’t look like the Kingdom. You already have a list of what you pray for; also have one of what you’re praying against. Instead of people, target ideas and actions and unholy agendas. Like the prophets and the Messiah Himself, be angry without sinning. Let the Presence synchronize you with Him—and whatever His heart feels.

Lord, fill me with Your feelings, regardless of what they are. Help me love what You love, hate what You hate, rejoice over Your joys, and be angry at whatever angers You. Shape my heart and let my prayers and actions flow from what You’ve put within me.