Have you ever had an experience you knew was not of this world? I’m talking about something so unique, so specific, that you cannot brush it off as anything other than a supernatural touch from God. Let me give some examples.
One day, several years ago, in the middle of a difficult writing project, I was struggling with self condemnation. When we suffer condemnation, it is not from the Spirit of God. But, in the moment, it sure can feel real.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, being weak because of man’s sinful flesh, God sent His own Son in the flesh… that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit!” Romans 8:1-4
Let’s pause to appreciate the truth that in Christ and filled with His Spirit, we are free, we live in grace. But, sometimes Hell and people, ourselves in particular, can try to drag us backward. Backward to the place where we do everything ourselves, where there was no rescue, no Savior, but where we are on our own and we’d better get it perfect.
Friends, that is nothing but oppression from Hell. When you feel that pressure within yourself, rebuke it in the name of Jesus! Ask the Father for deliverance from lies and for the Holy Spirit to fill you and your home with His precious grace and peace. You will feel alive again, free.
Anyway, back to the bad day… I was feeling defeated and downcast. After hours like this, I gave up trying to feel better. I’m sure I got nothing done that day. But, one unbelievable moment changed everything.
Wallowing in misery by late afternoon, I dragged my weary body and soul to the dining room window and looked outside for a change of scenery. Looking back, I have to say I’ve never seen anything in nature prior, nor since, that so amazed and inspired me to awe and wonder.
What I saw was at first glance nothing abnormal. Just a giant white cloud in a bright blue sky. But when I focused my eyes and really saw it, my jaw dropped. This cloud was anything but normal. It was not fluffy, blurred or diffuse like most clouds.
It was the most perfectly sculpted head of a man in stunning detail, every feature flawless. The eyes were I presume holes in the cloud, but they were glowing like fire from the light behind them. The expression on the face was intense, resolute and calm all at the same time. He had a beard and long, thick and wavy white hair.
The bigger than life image was so visually stunning, I froze unable to move, stared unblinking and wished I had my phone to take a photo. I was afraid to move for fear the cloud would be gone when I returned. I remember whispering to the Lord, “Is that what you look like?”
Reflecting back upon that day, I now recall the description of John the Apostle when describing his vision of Jesus in Revelation:
“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire…” Revelation 1:14
The cloud sculpture was identical! Eyes like fire, flowing hair white as snow. It was breathtaking.
The more I took in His face, more details stood out. The eyes and face were turned, looking to His right, my left. When I found myself long enough to breathe again, I turned my eyes to see where His gaze might lead.
Friends, I wanted to melt into the floor because it got even better. His gaze led to another small bit of cloud just lower, but not far from His face. The smaller cloud was different, like a puff of smoke. And what was unusual was it had expanded in such a way as to perfectly encompass a heart-shaped cutout in the middle. The fading sun lending pink light enhanced the impact of the heart image.
This was one of those moments a child of God can have which nothing can duplicate. A moment in which we cannot move, we cannot breathe, we cannot record it for others to see the evidence. We can only take it in and pray others will believe us. Perhaps many will not, but those who have had similar experiences will know, and believe.
That day, that moment, I could only remain frozen in place until the entire scene slowly and finally dissolved. There in the middle of the worst day during a difficult season was this dramatic image formed in the blue sky just outside my window: the face of the Lord complete with glowing eyes and gleaming hair, His determined face looking straight at a heart for me.
It was a work of art and pure love, a perfect sculpture hung in the sky the very moment He knew I would be looking. The very moment I would be so in need of a touch from Him, an assurance of love, a confirmation He was with me for better or worse, and His heart was mine.
Since then, my life of faith has grown to include dreams from the Spirit and visions. I’ve seen an angel more than once, seen into the throne room of Heaven. These amazing experiences in the spirit have become normal. But, I’ve not seen anything like that sculpted cloud again in nature. I still kick myself for not having a camera to capture that moment, but the memory will never die. It is embedded: My Father loves me. His Son, my Savior loves me, His Spirit is WITH me.
In our everyday life, we are blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful network of deeply devoted, Spirit-filled believers in Christ who believe and experience Him. All of us have had unique moments of His attention personalized for us, and we are accustomed to miracles. It is part of our inheritance. Miracles have followed God’s children from the beginning.
Another story I want to share is the personal experience of one of my nephews. For sake of privacy, I’ll call him John. This happened a couple years ago, just a few years after my sculpted cloud experience.
John called me one day in a tone I might describe as controlled animation. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, but it fits him. He is not a dramatic person, but I knew something dramatic had happened and he was doing his level best to share it in his usual calm demeanor.
John had been out jogging one day, in a season struggling with many things including spiritual matters, wrestling at his core with even belief in God. He glanced over and saw people in a field in the distance when suddenly the wind and weather changed, darkened and became stormy. Right at that moment, he felt like something punched him in the gut so hard it nearly knocked him down. He stopped, stunned.
When the punch came a second time, he knew something unexplainable was happening. He ran to the middle of the field and dropped to one knee. The people he had seen prior were suddenly nowhere to be seen. He was completely alone. He prayed, looked up and then saw something he couldn’t explain away.
What he saw was an odd cloud formed right above him. It was another perfectly carved image, that of a hand with every finger in detail, palm facing John as if held out over him, reaching to him or perhaps blessing him. He has never forgotten that moment and never will. In that moment, He knew God was real.
Many of you have had moments like this, unusual and even supernatural experiences where you’ve felt God up close and personal. Everyone’s experience is different, unique according to their need and availability, to their openness to receive it. But, God’s eyes are upon His children, and nothing can stop Him from reaching us in need.
Do you need a loving touch from Him today? He will be there for you.
Do you need to return to Him? A simple prayer of renewed faith in Christ and acknowledging you yield to His Spirit will bring you instantly back! Then, stay open, listen, keep watching for Him. You may be surprised. He loves to delight His children.
“The Lord made His ways known to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel…” Psalm 103:7
“Then they came round about Him, and said to Him, ‘How long do you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you did not believe: the works I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give to them eternal life; and they will never be removed, nor shall anyone take them from My hand.’” — Jesus; John 10:24-28
Believing is seeing.
Peace.
—oneseekingtruth
FAITH AND FASTING 