Move with The Cloud - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 8, 2021

Exodus 40:36-37 - In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out--until the day it lifted.

When God made His presence known to the Israelites in the wilderness, one powerful way was in the form of a cloud. That cloud descended on Mount Sinai, it descended on the Tent of Meeting, it sat atop them during the day as they walked, and once the Tabernacle was created, it rested there as well. This was God's way of ensuring His chosen people could see Him and not forget that He exists.

As we can see from today's key verses, the people didn't move except for when the cloud - the Lord - lifted. When that happened, this collection of nomads, packed up their belonging to follow the Lord wherever He led them. These people had to be ready to move with little forewarning except if the Lord gave them advanced knowledge. That meant they couldn't get too comfortable in any one place and had to trust God to take them where they needed to be and not focus on where they wanted to be.

How do you identify the Lord's cloud in today's day and age? Praise be to God that with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, all who submit themselves to Him have received a deposit of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). It is He - the Holy Spirit - who acts as our direct connection to the Lord today. The Holy Spirit will communicate God's instructions to you. It is He who will tell you when to move and when to sit still.

Romans 8:14 - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Therefore, the children of God must allow themselves to be guided by the Spirit of the Lord. This then leads us to ask ourselves some tough questions - have you submitted yourself to the Holy Spirit? Have we sought to hear the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to seek the discipline to hear His voice and obey?

It is when we have an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that we will only move when we are instructed to. It is only when we commit to hearing that quiet voice that we will know when He wants us to simply sit still.

I implore you to ask the Lord for the capacity to hear and obey His voice. We're told in Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. If you aren't sure how the Lord speaks to you, now is the time to ask Him for this capacity so when you really need to hear Him there's no insecurity or doubt. This way we will be like those who moved with the Lord and were blessed for it.

Hope to see you at Noon EST for this week's Praise & Pray (for others) when we'll honor the Lord by praising Him, then we'll act as intercessors and cover others in prayer before letting the Holy Spirit guide us in our final 10 minutes so we honor the Lord some more. May you be blessed and may the Lord be glorified in your life.