While reading Song of Songs in the Passion Translation this week, I was literally overcome by the Presence of God. I had to grab my journal and a pen and frantically scribble the words of the Lord as I felt Him wash over me with love. I was left in such great awe and reverence. Here’s what I heard Him say, and the scripture that opened the door for such a lovely encounter.
**NOTE: This is a bit different to my usual writing style as I have tried to remain true to the Father's voice and what He spoke. I hope this represents His heart well xoxo
Revive me with your raisin cakes. Refresh me again with your apples. Help me and hold me, for I am lovesick! I am longing for more—yet how could I take more? His left hand cradles my head while his right hand holds me close. I am at rest in this love……”There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me….
(Song 2:5-6; 13b).
I heard Him say, I’m calling My people to leave everything behind for the moments in my weighty Presence. The moments of intense encounter that forever brand them. My people do not realize what will come forth from these moments…
…My Presence is what marks them! Some have chosen good works over heart connection in My Presence. Some have chased breakthrough instead of chasing after My Presence, forgetting that I am THE GOD OF BREAKTHROUGH. I AM breakthrough. Many have forgotten that My Presence is where they are fully known and yet completely and utterly loved. Where they are overwhelmingly adored and where they are fully satisfied. Where they are empowered and wholly awakened to Heaven’s reality. I am calling My people to not just be "followers" of Me, but to dwell in and carry My Glory!
God showed me that He is putting a hunger in His people to go higher and deeper and to not pull away from Him – not pull out of His Presence too early. This goes beyond lingering. It is a hunger that facilitates encounters that will ruin His people for anything less.
When we arise and run to the higher places with Him, it will cause everything else to wain in comparison.
For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. It was I who took you and hid you up high in the secret stairway of the sky. Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice. How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice in prayer.
(Song 2:14)
I saw that as people begin to go higher, stepping up into the hidden places where God will share His secrets with them, they will learn to pray His heart. Their worship will go deeper and they will find themselves radiant and confident in this place. They will also begin to see the power of their prayers to change circumstances and shift situations in nations.
You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together.
(Song 2:15)
I see that in His Presence there are people of all ages, hand-in-hand with Jesus, together smashing the lies, the fears and the offenses that have held them back in the past season. I see people handing over compromise as Jesus washes it off of them. They work together as Jesus carries the heaviest portion of the load for them. OFFENSE, especially, is washed away by the Blood of Jesus.
Night after night I’m tossing and turning on my bed of travail. Why did I let him go from me? How my heart now aches for him, but he is nowhere to be found! So I must rise in search of him, looking throughout the city seeking until I find him. Even if I have to roam through every street, nothing will keep me from my search. Where is he—my soul’s true love? He is nowhere to be found. Then I encountered the overseers as they encircled the city. So I asked them, “Have you found him— my heart’s true love?” Just as I moved past them, I encountered him. I found the one I adore! I caught him and fastened myself to him, refusing to be feeble in my heart again. Now I’ll bring him back to the temple within where I was given new birth— into my innermost parts, the place of my conceiving.
(Song 3:1-4)
I see that in His Presence, hearts are strengthened as they search for Him with all their being, and as they fasten themselves firmly to Him. Scripture tells us that we will find Him when we seek for Him with our whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). He is waiting.
I’ve made up my mind. Until the darkness disappears and the dawn has fully come, in spite of shadows and fears, I will go to the mountaintop with you— the mountain of suffering love and the hill of burning incense. Yes, I will be your bride.
(Song 4:6)
I saw then that in His Presence, new courage and fresh trust begin to bubble up from within. A trust that breeds an intimacy unlike anything we have ever known.
Look at you now— arising as the dayspring of the dawn, fair as the shining moon. Bright and brilliant as the sun in all its strength. Astonishing to behold as a majestic army waving banners of victory. (Song 6:10)
Out of your innermost being is flowing the fullness of my Spirit— never failing to satisfy. Within your womb there is a birthing of harvest wheat; they are the sons and daughters nurtured by the purity you impart. How gracious you have become! Your life stands tall as a tower, like a shining light on a hill. Your revelation eyes are pure, like pools of refreshing— sparkling light for a multitude. Such discernment surrounds you, protecting you from the enemy’s advance. Redeeming love crowns you as royalty. Your thoughts are full of life, wisdom, and virtue. Even a king is held captive by your beauty. How delicious is your fair beauty; it cannot be described as I count the delights you bring to me. Love has become the greatest. You stand in victory above the rest, stately and secure as you share with me your vineyard of love.
(Song 7:2-7)
Finally, I saw people stepping into the weightiness of their calling. I saw that as they pushed deeper into God’s Spirit, they began to overflow His Spirit in extraordinary ways. And as they began to step into their destinies, they did it with such grace, security and victory! It was a beautiful sight to watch the Bride arise in His GLORY….
I call forth the GLORY DWELLERS TO ARISE! I call for the GLORY DWELLERS TO ARISE! Now is your time to ARISE AND OVERFLOW! Now is your time allow Him to strengthen your heart and be firmly fastened to Jesus. ARISE, Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me….
