Allow me to dwell at length on my celebration of God's goodness today. To tell you the truth, you wouldn't allow it, but I'll do it anyway. How could I not celebrate One so good, so loving, so powerful, and oh so capable of reaching beyond my human weaknesses to manifest His magnificent splendor! I do a lot? There's reason to.
On Sunday, God came to the service, somewhat in spite of us. We were exhausted; we had, you might say, been working late Saturday night preparing for the January conference. And then He made me wake up early, and I felt Him in my heart saying, 'You should be awake now, while others are sleeping.' I got up obediently and set about preparing the morning service, finishing preparing the message, praying, and doing all those things that diligent pastors do at four-thirty on Sunday mornings.
In the midst of praise I cried out to God to do something, and He did, something. The glory of God enveloped us, I fell on my face. Feeling the weight of this presence, I wondered how I was going to get up. Finally I was able to get up and got ready to preach, except I couldn't; I couldn't read my passage. Oh, I tried. The presence of God filled the room, the Holy Spirit began to touch people, to move in lives. I went back to my passage to try to read and continue my message, but no, I couldn't. And for a few moments we simply abandoned ourselves in His presence.
And there in that glory came to me a carnal thought, what good was it in the end to be woken up so early to prepare a message that I would not have the opportunity to preach? But I think that God, you would tell me as usual, had a better idea. He certainly wanted me to preach, but not necessarily with my own so inadequate words. The glory of God communicated the message more powerfully than my own words could have done. It was palpable, the whole atmosphere was permeated with it, and as I write this, I still feel it and continue to marvel at it.
Finally I was able to read my passage and preach the message, well, more or less; with more tears than words, (at least I felt that way); conscious of the weight of this presence. At such times it is good not to be easily embarrassed, because you are probably making a spectacle of yourself. But no matter, God was doing what He wanted to do and that suited me perfectly. By the way, the title of this message so ardently prepared and so difficult to get out, and which had the spotlight stolen by the glory of God? 'Passion for the Glory of God'.
Selah!
Selah!
Thank you Lord for being so willing to hold us in your presence!