A Burning Ring of Fire

Do you remember the words to The Love Boat theme song, “Love is in the air?” Lately I’ve had the same sense; love is in the air or rather the presence of the Lord is all around. I can barely go a day without tears welling up, as I sense all around God’s love for His children. His presence hovers over me and I am undone.

This morning during worship, I found that all I could do was cry. My tears were tears of awe and thankfulness for a God whose kindness leads us to repentance, whose love prunes us to take us higher. I’ve experienced some long painful seasons of pruning, but we are in a season of grace. If we respond to the Lord’s presence we will experience “suddenlys.” All we have to do is respond in obedience!

Last week when I was driving in the fast lane, my speed was greatly curtailed by a truck piled so high with tree cuttings I could barely even see it. While other cars whizzed by I noticed something so unreal that it drew my attention. Sitting on top of the high pile of green foliage was a ladder that looked as if it ascended into the sky. At that very moment the Lord seemed to say to me, “You feel as if others are whizzing by next to you on a lateral plane, but the purpose of pruning is so that you can go up higher.”

Because of the Lord’s love He is forever desiring and working toward the end that we would triumph in every situation. Sometimes we feel absolutely boxed in by our circumstances, but if we look closely we would see that He has drawn a circle around us in the sand and set it ablaze. We are owned by The Consuming Ring of Fire who always seeks to lead us higher in His ways. It is His grace, mercy and kindness that leads us into greater places of intimacy that our hearts have yet to encounter.