My Heart's Desire.

Last week during our prayer breakfast meeting, we had a guest, Gary Ham, give a short message before we began praying. He spoke about our need for the Holy Spirit every single day & as he continued speaking about this, God reminded me of one of my favorite stories in the Bible; I love the story of Moses talking with the Lord on top of the mountain & he demands that God show His glory. Ever since I explored this story in the Bible for the first time, I have had a desire to be like Moses & stand before God in the presence of His glory. As the years have gone by & continue to go on, that desire deepens.

"The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, & I will give you rest.'

Then Moses said to Him, 'If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me & with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me & Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?'" 

-Exodus 33:14-16

Moses pretty much told the Lord that they weren't going anywhere without God's Spirit. I am nothing without God's Holy Spirit. . .I cannot clearly communicate the Gospel without His Spirit, so in everything I do, before I do anything I should be seeking His Spirit. Making decisions, meeting new friends, discipling my Life Group ladies, ministering to people. . .my life should be ONE with HIM. Moses goes on to say, "What else will distinguish us. . .." What else will set us apart? Without the Spirit of the Lord, we blend in, but God wants us to stand out! At this point Moses is desperate for the Spirit of the Lord!

Here comes my favorite part. . .I'm so excited. . .

"Then Moses said, 'Now show me Your glory.'" -Exodus 33:18

Time to be a little silly. Click play to see my reaction. . .

I think it's awesome that Moses did not go forth into the presence of God trembling or begging, but instead he went in demanding to see God's GLORY!!! & then God actually gives Him a taste of His glory:

"& the Lord said, 'I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, & I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence.' 

-vs. 19

WHOA! But the story doesn't end there. . .

"'Then the Lord said, 'There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock & cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand & you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.'" 

-vs. 21-23

God says there is a place NEAR Him. . .He will not reveal Himself to us if we are not near to Him. I think it is so cool that He desires us to be near Him. Also, when I read ". . .you will see My back. . .," I think of following God's Spirit (I can't answer why God's face cannot be seen on a theological/historical level). Never should we be living life leading & guiding Him. We must always be behind, following the Lord through life. 

I am still processing some stuff & God is bringing understanding & deepening my desire to see more of His glory! I won't quit seeking His Spirit & I won't refrain from demanding His glory to be revealed & I pray you won't either. Best of all, God also desires for us to see His glory; He longs to reveal Himself to those that seek His presence. We can see His glory in the little things too. . .I see a little of His glory every day when I wake up with a heart beat in my chest & breath in my lungs. Thank You, Father.

I also see God's glory in His sunsets (I live in a beautiful country).