Creating an atmosphere for His presence
War Room is a 2015 American Christian drama film that brings much hope in the power of prayer. In one of the outstanding scenes, we see a pastor and his wife who are looking for a house to buy. Elizabeth, the real estate agent takes them to view Miss Clara’s house. She is a widow of several years having lost her husband in war but having learnt prayer strategies from his being a soldier- though after his death. Miss clara has been mentoring Elizabeth on fighting on her knees because behind closed doors, Elizabeth’s marriage and life does not appear as rosy as she would wish it was. The pastor views several rooms but one strikes him. It has a closet. He steps in and steps out. Steps in again lingers a moment longer and steps out. “Someone has been praying in this room”, he says. Elizabeth having learnt from her mentor, of her favorite room gives him a nod while smiling. She successfully sells the house to the couple.
Is it possible to create an atmosphere where the presence of God is tangibly felt?
Let’s consider Mr.Con artist-Jacob at least before he had his life turn around. While in his mother’s womb he was jostling with his brother Esau as if fighting to come out first. His mother Rebekah inquired of God about it in Genesis 25:22 “If all is well, why am I like this?” 23 And the Lord said to her “Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”
Jacob wasn’t successful in the struggle and instead arrived on planet earth clenching his brother’s heel. As he grows up, the word of the Lord to his mother starts being fulfilled. It would appear though that Jacob became a master of trickery. He first tricks his brother to give him his birthright in exchange for a bowl of lentil soup. He must surely been a good cook. In Genesis 27, when his father is about to die and under his mother’s instruction, he tricks his father by pretending to be his elder brother. Verses 15-17 Since Jacob was a smooth skinned man while Esau was hairy, Rebekah took the choice clothes of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son. 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob to give his father.
A father would always speak a blessing to his first son thus Esau loses his to Jacob. Enraged, Esau pursues Jacob with a determination to kill him whenever and wherever he would find him. Jacob has no option but to flee for his dear life.
On that lonely night and in the company of crickets and dim lights from moths, Jacob must be afraid, tired, full of regret, confused by his mother’s advice. He is aware that it will take a miracle for his brother to erase the record of his wrongs-he has taken it all from him. Darkness falls and the best he can do is make a pillow out of an idle random stone, the discomfort notwithstanding. And what a night! His empty stomach must be sending waves to his brain for he sees the heavens open and a staircase fall. Are those angels ascending and descending? You see, his grandfather Abraham had been at the same place and invited the presence of God when he raised an altar on two different occasions. Initially when God asked him to leave his country and when he returned from Egypt.
In Genesis 13 we read ..Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the [a]South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.
The LORD also meets with Jacob at Bethel where his grandfather had worshiped reaffirming to Jacob promises given to his grandfather.
“I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” This is in In Genesis 28 :13-15
What comfort he must have received with God addressing his current circumstances. He was running away but God promised to give him the land he was lying on. That he would bring him back from his self-imposed exile. He had no family of his own as yet and faced an uncertain future but God tells him of having numerous descendants. He also assured him of protection.
“Surely God must be here and I didn’t know… How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven”.
When he woke up the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel-House of God.
We can create similar heavenly portals within our spaces. Besides encountering God for ourselves, others will meet Him as well whenever they enter. It could be in your car every time you dash for a quick break during lunch hour to say a prayer or as you drive alone. It might be your home or bedroom or a spot you may have singled out in your home. It could be in your office or your cubicle. Perhaps your assignment in the office is not just to do what you have been hired to do, or to just attend to clients visiting your business premises but for you to create an atmosphere for God to dwell. What happens when people step into that atmosphere is God’s business.
Someone could accidentally stumble into the space you have created and their lives may never be the same again. It may be that they need to draw peace, healing, comfort. Whatever their need, God will meet them there and minister to them. Jacob experienced an open heaven as he saw a ladder with angels ascending and descending. Are(angels) they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? According to Hebrews 1:14.
How do you do that practically? You could be spending time in prayer or reading the word. It doesn’t matter the length of time, just be consistent such that God looks forward to your time of fellowship. Remember He used to visit the garden of Eden in the cool of the day to spend time with Adam and Eve. Saturate your space with worship if you can and if not distracting. You may choose to play an audio bible in your space- doesn’t faith come by hearing and hearing the word of God?
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