The Glory of God in Your Shadow

There are some remarkable things that God has used to bring about his purpose on earth. In Luke 19:38, when Jesus was coming into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, the people were saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”          “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The Pharisees were angry and asked Jesus to rebuke the people and tell them to be quiet. I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Luke 19:40. Yes! Even the stones will praise God! I don’t know about you, but as Alvin Slaughter said in one of his songs, “I ain’t gonna let no rock out praise me!”

Isaiah said, “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isa 55:12

So, even the rocks and the trees are a part of fulfilling God’s great purpose on earth. In Numbers 22, God used a donkey to rebuke the prophet Balaam. In Exodus chapter 3, God used a burning bush to speak to Moses. The list of unusual things God used to accomplish his purpose is quite lengthy. It is truly fascinating to me to contemplate what God has used to bring about his glory and purpose on earth!

While all those things are interesting, I am always mesmerized as I contemplate the following Scripture.

Acts 5:15, 16 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 

Wow! Can you imagine the excitement of those experiencing the glory of God during this time? Even the shadow of one of God’s kids was healing people. He wasn’t laying hands on them – he was simply walking by them! Wow! Think about this – If Peter’s shadow could heal people, imagine what God’s shadow can do.

Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” 

According to this verse, it is possible to dwell in the secret place of God and abide in his shadow! When a person has an encounter with God, what flows through their life begins to look like God! The reason why the power of God was flowing through Peter was because of his genuine encounter with the risen Christ. Christianity is never about what we work up – it is always about what we soak up! Peter’s encounter with God was so powerful that even his shadow was filled with a power strong enough to heal all who came in contact with it.

I often say that what you behold is what you will become. There is no substitute for quiet, unhindered, soaking time in the presence of the Lord! These precious moments are where God fills us with his supernatural power and glory!

Powerful Christianity is not something you can work up – it must be soaked up! Our minds must become consumed with the truth of God’s provision for us through Jesus! The more a person is infected, the more they can give that infection away. Nobody can get sick from being around you if there is no sickness in your body! Therefore, the secret to changing the world is to be changed ourselves. Oh, God, infect me with your love!

I love the song by Kim and with Jones that says, “If you can use anything, you can use me. If you can use anything, you can use me. Take my hands Lord and my feet, touch my heart Lord speak through me. If you can use anything, you can use me!

Oh God, use me! May your grace be upon me to live my life as a sacrifice for you! May you overcome and overwhelm me with the glory of who you are so that this world may know the reality of your love for them!

I am praying for you today and declaring over your life that you are one through whom the world can experience the reality of our loving God! As I pray over your life today, I am asking God to empower you to be more intimate with him than ever, and because of that intimacy, heaven’s glory will be released, and people will, indeed, experience… 

The Glory of God in Your Shadow