Have you ever felt alone, isolated, ignored, or something like that? Itt is simply not good. What would happen if we could bring something greater to those experiences? What would happen if there was something that overcame those feelings that we could share with the world?
I use to struggle with depression….major depression. Many times when trying to explain my thoughts, or my questions, or understandings, people wouldn't get it. It would send me deeper into the black hole I was living in. I would feel alone, isolated, darkness..until….
You've all heard my story of redemption, and how God got ahold of my heart. I've shared it several times throughout my blogs and I can't seem to ever stop talking about it. Afterall, it literally saved my life. So, again let me tell you! I was in a deep, dark, rebellious spot, speaking of everything but Christ. I had an encounter to where really…I couldn't deny that there was a God and that there was power in His name. Over the next several weeks, as I processed this encounter and weighed decisions, there would be moments where I would feel completely engulfed and this peace would overcome me. There were also times during that 2 week period of time but even more since my redemption that I have felt something wrapping me.
I didn't understand it then, but now I know it was the Holy Spirit engulfing me. Those times where I felt something wrapping me, it felt like a physical hug. It always brought a sense of relief and peace. I won't go in to all the technicalities of being filled with the Holy Spirit or speaking in tongues or any of that but what I will say is He is very very real.
So, tonight, I'm sitting, praying in my head. I was thinking about the journey that I am on, thinking about past seasons of amazingness, glory and power, and this upcoming season that will take me around the world. Some days I simply dread this upcoming season! Don't get my wrong, I am super excited about my trip to 11 countries! What an amazing opportunity! But if I am honest, there are definately moments when I dread it. To think of how God is going to wreck me…break me…then mold me and form me is sometimes I dreadful yet desirably beautiful thing.
Anyway… as I was thinking about all of these things, that feeling came upon me. That feeling that someone had wrapped their arms around me and was giving me a huge hug. I would have looked around to see if someone had come up from behind me, but everyone in my house is currently in front of me watching TV…so it's obvious it's the Holy Spirit. After all…He was sent to guide and comfort.
Think about gift wrap. It covers a gift. That is, to some degree anyway, what the Holy Spirit does through us! We will be loving on the people we come across. That is our purpose to go…and love. When we love on people, we are releasing the Holy Spirit in to their "bubble". We are bringing the light of Christ. But they will see that truth through our love. So, the Holy Spirit and experiencing the Holy Spirit is a wonderful thing and I hope to release His presence everywhere where my feet go over the next year and a half…and really for the rest of my life however, I want that experience to lead people to their Savior. I want them to experience Him and come to know Him because of that. I want to build them up, comfort them and release them into greatness…into their calling…into peace with their God.
So, with that said, I challenge you. Does the Spirit rest on you? Do you bring peace? Do you bring comfort?
Father, I ask right now in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth that You bring revelation to us. Thank You for the blood that You shed in order to reconcile us to You and thank You for comissioning us to be Your hands and feet and to release Your presence over the nations. Abba, prepare us to be a resting place for Your presence…that wherever we go we can bring Your peace and Your comfort to each that we come in contact with. I just ask Abba, that You engulf each person reading this, that You let them experience Your peace and love for them this night. In Your precious precious name…Amen.
