Corona Devo 1981

When I woke up today, I was in the mountains, but the mountain tops weren't visible, because of the thick cloud.


There are mountains beyond the trees in this picture, but they are hidden because they are enveloped by thick cloud.  
These mountains (in North Carolina) were in thick cloud.

I’ve been in thick cloud recently as well: Literally…and spiritually.

I say "cloud" (singular) instead of clouds, because, although there were lots of clouds in the air and sky, the cloud I was in wasn't a physical one or ones...it was a spiritual cloud.

~~~ 

When Moses met with God on Mount Sinai, it was a special and sacred time when he stepped away from his normal duties of life and stepped in to God’s presence…and Moses always came back changed. 

Moses had faith in God, and he took the (literal) steps to be alone with God.  And while together, God spoke to Moses and Moses heard God and Moses listened to God (there’s a difference).  And Moses was changed.

And when God meets with us, it is a special and sacred time, and we are changed after being with Him.  When Moses met with God, God came to him in a thick cloud, and this is the metaphor and "idea" of spiritual experience that is still possible for you and me today.  Moses experienced God in a thick cloud, and we can too.  

Let's step away from routine and ritual, and step in to God's presence today.  Get in the cloud with God today.

  • The Lord said to Moses, “See, I will come to you in a thick cloud.  So the people may hear when I speak with you, and may believe you forever.”  ~ Exodus 19:9 
  • On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast.  Everyone in the camp trembled. (17) Then Moses brought the people from among their tents to meet God.  They stood at the base of the mountain.  (18) Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord descended on it in fire.  The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.  ~Exodus 19:16-18 
  • When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord…  (34) But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out.  And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, (35) they saw that his face was radiant.  Exodus 34:29, 34-35

I’ve been in the thick cloud recently: literally--as the pictures show, but figuratively and spiritually too. 

For me, it happened in the North Carolina mountains, far from cities and chores.  But it can happen anywhere.  Not just on a mountain, like Moses, or on a mission trip, or in a monastery. 

Meeting with God and feeling the thick cloud of His presence surround and settle over us can happen anywhere, because all that's necessary is our desire to meet with Him (He is already desiring to meet with us.).  And when we do connect with our Lord...it's better than anything else that this world offers.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…  ~Psalm 84:10

Getting into the thick cloud of our Lord's presence is not off-limits, it is an open door...and He welcomes us to Him with open arms.  This seeking and finding of our Lord brings to us direction, and a bounty and satisfaction that the world cannot provide.

Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy righthand there are pleasures for evermore.   ~Psalm 16:11

This verse describes what it's like to be in the thick cloud of God's holy presence...and it was hanging on the wall at the Billy Graham retreat center that I was blessed to be at.

Thou wilt show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy righthand there are pleasures for evermore.   ~Psalm 16:11  


Let's get away and into God's thick cloud today. 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  ~James 4:8

Maybe the thick cloud of God's presence means driving to the mountains of North Carolina, or maybe that means closing the door to our closet and getting quiet without anyone else around or our phone within reach.   

We can climb up on God’s mountain and meet with Him through His Word and prayer anytime that we choose, and when we do, we’ll be in the cloud with Him.  We’ll be in His presence, and we’ll know it. 

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!  ~Psalm 84:1

We will connect with God and we can be in His thick cloud and (like Moses) we will be changed just by being with Him.

  • The Lord said to Moses, “See, I will come to you in a thick cloud.  So the people may hear when I speak with you, and may believe you forever.”  ~ Exodus 19:9 
  • One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.  ~Psalm 27:4

 ~~~

Moses had faith in God, and we do too.  We can (like Moses) take the (literal) steps to be alone with the Lord.  And while together, God will speak to our hearts and we will hear God and we will listen to God (there’s a difference).  And when we spend time in the thick cloud of God's presence, we will be changed.

~~~

I’ve been in the thick cloud of God's presence recently...and I hope that you have been too.  And if we would like to be (spiritually) in the thick cloud of the Lord's presence--it's possible anytime (and anywhere) we want: Mountains or valleys, clouds or clear skies.  

Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  ~I Chronicles 16:11


Blessings, 

Sarah 

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com 

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