In His Light
The conference was wonderful on Saturday. Thank you so much to those who prayed and sent encouraging emails, God really answered your prayers!
The setting itself was just beautiful, a church on the sea! On the coast, just north of London. I love stained glass windows, and high above the altar in this church was a window of Jesus robed in white, and light streaming from Him, as angels worshipped Him in glory.
I smiled at the way this picture of Jesus, radiant in His light, seemed to confirm the message that God had given me.
At the time in my life when I called out to Him for the first time, He revealed Himself to me, and gave me a particular picture in my mind’s eye, with the word that He was going to take me ‘step by step from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light.’
It was this point about coming into, and living in God’s light, that I felt He wanted me to focus on. To think about those things that we may be hiding from God. Those things that cause us to avoid Him or turn away from Him out of guilt, shame or disobedience.The way that intimacy with God comes as we come boldly before His throne of grace Heb. 4:16, allowing His light in on the shadows of sin and regret in our hearts.
I spoke about Adam and Eve. How in the beginning they enjoyed full intimacy with God, naked before Him, both physically and in their hearts, and were not ashamed Gen. 2:25. But after they sinned, their reaction was to hide away. Under the trees. Away from God’s presence (Gen. 3:8-10).
Then I felt like God showed me Jesus as the contrast to Adam and Eve.
Jesus, the last Adam 1 Cor. 15: 45. Where the first Adam sinned, the last Adam was without sin. Jesus’ intimacy with the Father was never broken by sin, and where Adam hid away from God, Jesus went to a high place, Mount Tabor I’ve read, to seek God and to be with Him (Matt. 17:1-9).
Where Adam hid under the trees in darkness, Jesus stood openly on the mountain – transfigured by God’s light. I so love the way this is described in the different gospels! Listen to Mark’s account of it – ‘His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them’ Mark 9:3. I really like the way he describes it :)
I felt as if God showed me this connection between intimacy with Him, and being in His light.
Moses, a friend of God the Bible says Ex.33:11, goes up Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights to be in God’s presence. And when he comes back down, His face shone with such radiance that the Israelites could not look upon him without him covering his face with a veil (Ex. 34:28-35).
Intimacy with the Father, and being soaked in His light.
And then I felt the Lord had given me particular words for particular women in the group. Specific burdens these women had been carrying. Areas of brokenness, sin, pain and regret. It truly was the most awesome, humbling, joyful thing to be able to pray with these precious women afterwards who came forward in response. I am in awe of our God. He had such a purpose for that day, and it just overwhelmed me to see His Spirit at work as He revealed His immense love and compassion for these precious ladies, and the hope that He wanted to give us all. He is just so incredible.
So what a beautiful experience it was. Thank you once again for praying, as I said at the start, God answered!
I also wanted to flag up that very soon I’m going to be posting photos and thoughts about our trip to Prague last month. It’s really been so busy recently, with God opening wonderful opportunities to serve, and lots of other fun things, so it’s meant that I’ve had to put one or two things on hold until now :). It was a wonderful time in Prague, and I’m so excited to be posting the photos soon :).
I’m longing to live in His light. It is so wonderful to hear what a blessed time it was, thank you for sharing about it, hearing testimonies of God working in people’s lives really encourages one’s faith. I’m imagining being able to go up a mountain and spending forty days and nights in the presence of the living God…
Really looking forward to the Prague photos:)
Oh, Birgit – you’re so right about hiding away from God. I know He is aware of all I say and do even before I think of it. I know that Jesus makes us presentable before God, but that enemy of ours wastes no time reminding me about the things that I’m ashamed of – things I can’t change. I need the Word to make me FEEL whiter than white – dazzling. :)
How awesome praise God!
I love the message. Definitely one we need to hear over and over again; especially right now. It feels like so many people are under attack, fall prey to the enemy, and then hide from God when really we need to turn to Him, sin and all, so He can strengthen us in the face of temptation/storms/struggles the next time they arise.
So glad you had such an awesome God-experience!
Love you XO
I am so glad the women responded the way they did. That is always my favorite part of a retreat to see God touch the ladies, where they need it the most, and to know their lives will be changed. His power at work, so amazing!
Hi Rain, I know what you mean – forty days and forty nights in God’s presence, speaking with Him face to face Ex.33:11 says, wow!
The testimonies really were so wonderful to hear, it’s reminder of God tangibly at work, and His ability to truly restore and recreate, amazing.
Lots of love to you ox
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Hi Hope, yeah, I fully relate to the whole thing of condemnation. It makes me run even faster to God now I find, like you realising more and more that it’s only because of what Jesus did that I am presentable to God, ‘whiter than white’ as you say :). Only because of His grace. And I love that He never condemns us, but is always ready to receive us and restore us. He truly is so good :) Love and blessings to you.
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Hi G, that’s so true. I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. The way that the enemy knows our weaknesses, and on top of this, just the way that things can be really hard at times, and we can be so burnt out, and in all of this, it can be so easy to turn from God, to stumble, to fall into temptation. But in our weakness, He never lets us go. At least, that’s my experience. No matter what. He has never forsaken me. I am reminded over and over again of the strength we have in Him, the joy, the hope. I don’t know where I’d be without Him.
Love you too G xo
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Hi Tawny, I so know what you mean. Isn’t it the most amazing thing to see God at work. Like you, it was my favourite part, God tangibly working in women’s lives. It has me in awe. He truly is so good! Love and God bless xo
God is faithful to answer our prayers.
He’s so good to us.
Love you, Birg xo
That’s so true Michelle. Do you know I’ve just got off the phone from one of the ladies I prayed with on the morning, and she was just sharing about all that God has done in the last week, and again, I am so struck by Him. Our God is AMAZING. He is so faithful as you say, and brings such healing and restoration to our lives in His perfect timing.
Thank you Michelle for all your prayer, and your support. It means a lot. I’ll be replying to your email too soon :) Lots of love xo