On Yo' Face!

The first time El Shaddai appears in the bible - is with Abram.(Genesis 17)

LSV quick recap:

-Hagar has returned and she has given birth to Ishmael

--13 years have passed by (I don't know about you - but that is a L-O-N-G time to not hear from God!!) ...when Abram has a divine encounter with El Shaddai.

Abram is now 99 years old and God Almighty appears to Him, the bible does not specify that it was a vision this time (as in Chpt 15...so is it a more intimate encounter?) God sets forth the covenant:

"Walk habitually before Me and be perfect and I will make my covenant between me and you and will multiply you exceedingly"

Abram's reaction? He falls on His face.

I think this is the place that we need to find first, when we meet Almighty God...on our face, humble, amazed, overwhelmed by His presence. I think I am going to pause the story there for today. With Abram on his face.

Abram had an experience with God, he was overwhelmed by His presence.

Have you felt distant from God lately? Have you ever felt like there was marshmallow fluff standing in between you and God- JUST NOT ABLE to get close enough? Not feeling the majesty of His presence?

I can remember an experience I had - maybe 7 years ago (or so- I am bad at time lines!!) I was sitting in the sanctuary, during a worship service and I was so disconnected from the music, from the praise and from the service. I felt like I could not get into His presence. There was something blocking me. I prayed that I would have an overwhelming experience with Him, prayed for the intimacy to return, cried out that I didn't know where He was.

Sparing you all of the gory details, it was me that was blocking His presence. I had unrepentant sin, that needed to be confessed, changed and shed. That day God - who is sooo faithful- slammed into my heart- and I got my overwhelming experience with God. I found myself on my face- in sorrow, in amazement- in awe- of how tenderly He loves us- and how thoroughly we are washed clean- when we repent and turn back to Him.

If you feel like you are brushing on the fringes of His Glory - talk to Him today - on your face. Ask Him why.

*Is there unrepentant sin in your heart? In your life?

*What about the last thing He asked you to do - have you done it yet? In the small steps of obedience - the large bonds of trust are formed.

*Is there anger , jealousy, gossip, slander, judgement blocking His presence?

My prayer for us is that we all have an overwhelming experience with El Shaddai - and that we all find ourselves on our faces!