Today, as it has become a beautiful habit, I woke up very early in the morning to start the day spending time with my Father (you can take everything away from me, but you will never take from me my time with Him!). The weather forecast says that there is 100% chance of rain and rarely enough it seems like they are right. A heavy rainstorm is going on outside and the temperature is really cold (something that I really did not expect coming into Africa). I make myself a hot cup of coffee, eat a banana with peanut butter to satisfy my morning munchies and not be bothered by it during my quiet time with the Lord, grab my phone and earbuds and my Bible off course, sit down and crank up some worship music and start my time with Him by giving Him praise and thanksgiving for everything that He has done and will continue to do. Noy only in me but in all of those around me and in the entire world.
In the middle of my routine time with Him I stop and perceive a sudden urge of unsatisfaction, restlessness building up inside of me. I felt like I was just going through the motions and my heart was just yearning for a truer expression of Him. A closer experience with Him. I wanted to know Him more and this desire was taking over me. Now I’m sitting down in the couch with all of this going on inside me but with no idea to what to do or where to go with it.
Out of nowhere, the slightest tingling sensation comes to my feet. An invitation of the Father to walk with Him. But walk where with Him? We are staying in a house too small to walk around it and it is pouring rain outside. Exactly. Out to the rain it is. Off course my mind immediately rose against my childlike willingness to follow Father’s invitation and used his best arguments to keep me from doing so. Not this time mind. Too many times you have kept me from stepping into what God has for me and I will take it no more!
I get up and go for my rain jacket and tennis shoes but as soon as I hit the door I hear the Father telling me to leave my jacket behind and change my tennis shoes for sandals. At this I argued for a bit with Him. I really dislike when I take the step to do something that already pushes me out of my comfort zone and being told that I still need to do more. I pointed out to Him how it was raining and cold outside (as if He didn’t know that already) but He insisted and told me that I could have a hot shower when I returned. It sounded good enough so I changed and went out into the cold rain. In my ignorance I left my towel outside on the porch for I expected to be drenched by the time I got back.
As I started walking through the property, still without a clear idea of what I was supposed to do, God pointed out a tree, so I followed Him there. Once under the tree I saw how the branches formed an almost perfect shelter from the rain which attracted the birds to take refuge in it. The Lord reminded me how even in the stormiest of wheathers we can find refuge in Him. How He, Jesus Christ, is our tree of life in the midst of the sin and despair of this world and how apart from Him we are at the mercy of the storm. It was a pretty sweet analogy and I could feel the Lord there with me.
As soon as I left the tree the rain suddenly went from an outpoor to a slight sprinkle so that I could walk in the open air without really getting wet. We walked in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other’s presence (me more than Him surely! Although with Him you never know, by some unknown reason He trully delights in us, His children). In the silence He said: “son, do you know that I would be willing to open up the skies, move the mountains and split the seas just to be reunited with one of all my children? Do you know that I would’ve come down from heaven and given my life on that cross even if it would’ve been only for you?”.
My heart was moved by His words. It has been a long time since I felt the Good News of the love of our Father in Jesus’ death and resurrection so close up and personal in my heart. My Father was building me up! He was filling me with His love and with His joy. How wonderful is He! His only desire is to strengthen us and to make us know how loved and safe we are in Him and all the good things that He has given us through Jesus when we believe that everything He did, He did it for each one of us personally. It is no good to only believe the general statement and don’t let it sink in on a personal level. We must let it enter into our hearts and stir up our thoughts and emotions that we may enter into worship to Him.
After this, I was walking along the border of the property and a huge Great Dane started barking at me. Soon after, another big dog joined her and the barking became louder and more fierce. I did not flinch. There was an electric and a regular fence between us. I felt safe. I knew in my mind that there was no way these big dogs could get to me or do me any harm. Again Father spoke and said to me: “see, son, just as these dogs bark at you and cannot harm you in any way because of the fence protecting you, as so problems, dangers and enemies may rise against you and try to intimidate you but I want you to walk knowing that no matter how close you may feel or think they are, my Spirit is always with you protecting you like a great defensive barrier and no harm can come to you”.
When I returned home I was barely even wet, after having thought it was going to be necesary to have a towel to dry myself off from all the rain. I came in and took my promised hot shower (which was epic!) and was ready to start the rest of my day. I felt so confident and filled with love and joy over the time I spent with the Trinity that I couldn’t hold it in. I was more than ready to go out to ministry and to pour out everything that had just been given to me. It may have come out in different words and expressions throughout the day but it was the same essence in every one. The love of God our Father, the compassion and mercy of Jesus and the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit. This is meant to be our every day. This is the mission everyone who has accepted Him as their Lord and Savior is called to. To live in the fullness of life that He has offered and provided for us. Anything less is waste.
