Cloud by day

Fire by night and cloud by day is how the Israelites were led.(Exodus 13:21) My thoughts tend to go to majestic and beautiful and wonderful. I have often thought how mysterious, how incredible, and how OBVIOUS this was for them to follow after God. I mean just look up right! No question about it. But then, I gave it some more thought today after having heard from my Father.

A couple of days ago, it was a dreary one. I had an errand to run and it literally was not until I grabbed my keys that the Heavens opened up and a fierce rainstorm began pounding my house. I did not have the time to just sit and wait it out, so off I went getting drenched in the process. As I drove off, it was peculiarly obvious that as I approached a block or two away from my house, there was not a drop falling from the sky. Really, God?

It was in that moment I was reminded about the Israelites who were led by a pillar of cloud by day... I heard my Heavenly Father say, "when the cloud is over you, I am there. The cloud is evidence of my presence." This spoke multitudes to me...as life for me, the past two years, has seemed to look a lot like the cartoon-strip character from Lil Abner who never escapes the black cloud. LOL. (No pity here though. Father is at work.) It's so easy to assume clear skies proclaim the presence of the glory of God. And they can. But that certainly, does not mean that dark skies proclaim His absence.

Typically, when we sit under a cloud, its darker. It veils us from the bright, burning light of the sun. We may look around and observe others running around in sunshine. While for us there's just this cloud lingering over us that we just can't seem to escape... Be it depression, anger, frustration, resentment, loneliness, a state of poverty in one way or another birthed from our life circumstances. I never want to contribute those feelings to my good Father, who, I know without a doubt, loves me and wants good for me. But here's the deal, those feelings are just symptoms of a belief/ unbelief pattern. In love, He absolutely allows the circumstances around me (i.e. cloud) to expose those beliefs that are contrary to His ways. Our Father in Heaven loves us enough to help us fully realize their existence. He allows it that we might recognize the fullness of our err, look to Him in it, and find freedom and healing. As His mercy and love begin pouring down from the Heavens, the temptation is to try to stay locked up inside thinking we're just gonna wait this one out and cling to what we "know". We fail to realize that by stepping out in the downpour of His love, His perspective, and Truth, we're stepping toward the pillar of fire, which comes next. It's the next step to freedom. Fire is all-consuming. First, we realize our unbelief. Seek forgiveness and receive a drenching of mercy and then, the lies we've believed must be dealt with. Fear may come knocking, but refuse its residence in your heart. It's in the fire that all things un-pure are burned up. The lies. The pride. The unbelief- sin. And just as His presence is evidenced by the cloud by day, it's equally evident in the fire by night. Regardless of which one is leading us or covering us currently, we can be confident that He is in it with us!

Life is too short to cover this one up, stuff it down, run to a friend instead of Jesus, hide under the covers or battle it out with our own fleshly hewn weapons that are capable of nothing more than further wounding ourselves. That day showed me that there's not time to waste while under the pillar of cloud by day. Time under the pillar of cloud by day is time intended for me to walk out what I know to be true about my Father and about Christ in me. The pillar of cloud is, in fact, His grace, an opportunity to repent. It's another one of His ways of beckoning me to follow Him. If I'll just keep walking in Truth, He will lavishly pour out His His mercy and love. It's no cake walk. But it can be sweet nonetheless. So, if you find yourself under either one... however difficult it may be, remember, it is majestic, it is mysterious, it is wonderful, incredible, and beautiful that your loving and holy Heavenly Father would consider you worthy of His presence to tend your heart. It is a God ordained atmosphere. A holy place. May we enter in allowing the cloud and the fire to be obvious signs of His leading and His presence and look up to Him. Praying you experience a double measure of His grace, His mercy, and His love today!

Ps: I'll never envy the Israelites pillars again... at least not in the same way:)

Praise Him in the cloud! Praise Him in the fire!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NAYz0zh_Es , Look Up Child, Lauren Daigle

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Matthew 5:45

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Isaiah 43

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia[a] and Seba in your place. 4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. 6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. 7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’”

8 Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. 9 Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?

10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

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Matthew 5

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.