Nearly three weeks ago, during Holy Communion late one evening, our Lord showed me a vision of Himself as a Lion wearing a crown. This Lion was standing and waiting with me in a dark cave. Suddenly, the door of the cave opened and light streamed in. Holy Spirit gave me the understanding that this majestic Lion was ready to be publicly presented and displayed.
This was the end of the vision.
What our Lord impressed in my spirit was that there are those of us who have felt we have been in a cave for a long time. Whether it be due to preparation or grief or fear or exhaustion or all the above.
But now, Holy Spirit is revealing that it’s time to follow our King of Glory out of the cave and share Him with the world in bright new ways. It’s time for the One, who has been there all along, to shine anew. It’s time for us to arise as His daughters and sons and let the glory of our Lord radiate to nations through us. It’s time to display His victory-salvation in our lives on another level and invite others to dwell with Him. It’s time to follow His lead as He spotlights Himself.
There is a grace—a holy ease and favor—upon us for this. God is restoring us to outward expressions of awesome wonder for the divine purpose of captivating others.
Our key scripture here is Isaiah 60:1 AMPC, which says, “ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! [Zech. 8:23.]”
Sometimes, when we go through long seasons of hardship, it can feel easy to forget that, as we have gone deeper with God to recover, His glory isn’t being shared through us as much as it is being shared with us. But we are in a time now, where God’s deep work in us has been completed for the purpose it was intended.
The season has shifted into a new one in which His glory will shine brighter than ever through us to a world that desperately needs to see Him.
Isaiah 60:2-4 TPT describes this repositioning and repurpose by saying:
Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth and thick gloom covers the nations, but Yahweh arises upon you and the brightness of his glory appears over you! Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day! Lift up your eyes higher! Look all around you and believe, for your sons are returning from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried home. Watch as they all gather together, eager to come back to you!
Just as God has restored us, He desires to restore them through His redemption. And we get to be part of it. God may have new places and platforms for us and may even relocate many.
Although it will be a process, it won’t be overly difficult. We can expect to experience His beauty and peace on new levels, from the moment we enter in. We can expect to be awed and amazed by Him in new ways as He takes us to extraordinary settings that we do not deserve.
By pure grace, God will get us there, as He continues to give good gifts to His children, even the ones we don’t deserve.
This is God revealing His heart for us as in Romans 8:28 AMPC, which says, “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.”
We are stepping into God’s new plan, His new grace place as He has taken all the pieces and done something good with them. And we will not be alone. The same Lion that was with us in the dark cave is the same Lion that will be with us in the new, bright shining place.
What we thought was lost and gone forever will prove to reveal itself as a new beginning as God returns us to the beautiful desires of our hearts made manifest in grand, new ways.
This new place is a greater expanse that required a narrow walk. And it will not disappoint. It offers peace and fullness of joy as our Lord dwells with us there to pour out to many.
So, pray with me if you will…
Dear Lord,
Thank You for believing in us and not abandoning us, both in the cave and in public arenas. Both have been places of captivation because of You. Help us to continue to realize that, as we go, we grow in You. May it all be according to Your will as we follow You.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Amen.
This devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.