Shock & Awe

There have been times when I’ve received news that absolutely stunned me. I’ve also been speechless and weak in the knees after hearing or seeing certain events take place. Another symptom that usually gets to me is being sick to my stomach. When I first heard about the 9/11 attacks on New York, I was all of the above – stunned, speechless, weak in the knees and sick to my stomach. I could not have possibly put into words the helpless feeling I felt. I’m learning every day to “Trust in The Lord with ALL my heart and lean not on my own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV)

When Ezekiel was called to be a prophet, I’m sure he had no idea what he would see or hear. The first chapter he was seeing all sorts of things he’d never seen before. I can’t imagine seeing a “wheel inside a wheel” and the four creatures with weird heads. Then he saw the Glory of the Lord. Check this out…

25 Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26 Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. 27 I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (Ezekiel 1:25-28 NIV)

I have never seen anything like Ezekiel saw. I have seen the Power of God at work. I have seen what a difference the Presence of God makes. I have seen the effects of the Peace of God that settle in on my heart. There are times in my life that I need the Power of God, the Presence of God and the Peace of God all at the same time. I really can’t imagine my life with the Hope that He brings to every situation. I want to remain in “Shock and Awe” of His Presence. I don’t want to ever take His Presence, His Power and His Peace for granted.

Pressing On!

Dwayne