“When Moses went back down Mount Sinai, he carried the two stone tablets in his hands as a witness to their agreement. But he did not realize that the skin on his face was glowing and radiant because he had been speaking with God.  When Aaron and the Israelites saw that Moses’ face was shining, they were afraid to get too close to him.” – Exodus 34:29-30

Have you ever seen someone who was truly experiencing the presence of God?  Can you think of anyone you know whose appearance overflows with the Holy Spirit whenever you meet them? When Moses came down from the mountain, the Israelites were afraid of him because the change in his appearance was so evident.  He was glowing from being exposed to the glory of the living God.  It isn’t often that I see people like this.  However, I was blessed a couple of weeks ago and reminded that God is truly with us when we seek Him.

It was at a worship event that our church held.  The music was incredible, and I was having a great worship experience myself.  But normally during those times I don’t pay much attention to anyone else.  I just go and engage with the Spirit to the best of my ability. But for some reason, I looked up on the stage where the real singers were.  And I was blessed beyond measure.

I saw my friend Sarah.  She was singing from the depths of her soul and there was truly this GLOW about her.  She is so beautiful in her own right, but at that moment, she was over flowingly  radiant.  The look on her face was pure adoration, and it had such a deep impact on my soul.  I thought to myself, “She is actually in the presence of God.”  She wasn’t just singing to Him, she was communing with Him.  And that is a huge difference.  She was absolutely transformed in that moment.  And I am so thankful that I was able to have this glimpse of such a divine encounter.

When God allows us to see something that magnificent, it changes us as much as the person having the encounter.  It re-affirms my faith.  It makes me seek Him all the more fervently.  It gives me hope that I am not that far away from Him myself.

So why is it that we don’t physically see His presence within each other more often?  We all claim to be believers that are filled with His Spirit, and yet, I don’t have many encounters like that.  I don’t know the answer.  But the question does bring to mind a story that has really been on my heart a lot recently.  It is about one of our desert fathers, Abba Joseph.

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can I say my Little Office. I fast a little. I pray. I meditate. I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else am I to do?”
Then the old man stood up, stretched his hands towards heaven and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire, and he said to him, “If you will, you can become all flame.” 

“If you will, you can become all flame.”  If I am willing, I can be completely filled with the Holy Spirit.  If I am willing, I can be transformed.

I have been mulling these words over and over in my mind for several weeks now.  It is obvious to me that my particular roadblock is my willingness.  At least, I think that is what God is trying to say to me.  I am truly wrestling with this.  In order to be completely filled, I probably have to give some things inside up.  What is it that I am still holding on to?  What is it in my heart that I won’t let go of in order for the Spirit to completely inhabit me?  What is stopping my absolute surrender to God’s will for me?

I am thinking this will take me a while to figure out.  But I so would like to be that person that overflows with the Holy Spirit.  I truly desire to be the person that carries the presence of God with her everywhere she goes. Wouldn’t that just be incredibly awesome, to walk with God like that?

I have faith that my Eternal Savior will continue to lead me in that direction and will stay with me until I get it figured out.  Until then, I will keep looking around me for those that already have that glow, and I will do my best to learn from them.

Walk toward peace my friends.