At an unexpected time, a vision appeared before me, vivid and overwhelming, as if reality itself had given way to the unseen realm. I stood in a vast assembly, surrounded by believers who had gathered with one purpose—to seek the face of God. The air was thick with anticipation, a fragrance of sweet incense rising from the altar, mingling with the aroma of fresh anointing oil that began to flow freely, golden and fragrant, a symbol of the Spirit’s unrestrained presence.
As I breathed in, the scent of oil and incense filled my lungs, and I could feel the warmth of the fire burning deep within my chest. The atmosphere was alive with the sound of many voices, lifted in worship, but not the familiar songs of routine. These were new songs, birthed in the moment, raw and unfiltered, as if each word was being drawn directly from the wells of living water within their souls (John 7:38). The melodies intertwined with the wind that began to stir—soft at first, like a whisper through the trees, then building into a mighty rushing force that caused the very walls to tremble (Acts 2:2).
The ground beneath my feet shook, and I could feel the vibrations moving up through my legs, reverberating in my bones. It was as though the earth itself was responding to the presence of the Almighty. Suddenly, the wind became a torrent, swirling around the assembly, and with it came a fire—holy and fierce, yet not consuming. It descended from above, resting upon each head like tongues of flame, and with the fire came a heat that penetrated to the very core, igniting hearts with a passion that could not be quenched (Acts 2:3).
In the midst of this encounter with the Lord, I looked and saw those who had lived their entire Christian lives in the familiarity of routine, their eyes opening wide in astonishment. They had come expecting the usual—a service they could sleep through, a sermon they could predict, a worship they could endure. But now, they were confronted with the reality of a God who could not be contained by their expectations. The air around them shimmered with the weight of glory, so thick it felt like the very breath of God was filling their lungs.
As I continued to behold the scene, I saw twenty-four elders seated on thrones, clothed in white robes, with crowns of gold upon their heads. Their faces were filled with awe and reverence as they cast their crowns before the throne, crying out, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:10–11). Their voices joined with the sound of the cherubim and seraphim, who flew back and forth with wings covering their faces, crying out with voices that shook the heavens, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
The presence of the elders added to the solemnity of the moment, their worship serving as an example to the gathered assembly. The ground continued to tremble beneath their feet, and the room filled with a thick, fragrant smoke—like the smoke of incense rising before the throne of God. It obscured my vision, yet I could feel the nearness of the Lord, so close it was as if I could reach out and touch Him. The smoke carried with it the scent of burning coals, and I saw them—glowing, fiery coals being brought forth by an angel, who touched them to the lips of the people, purifying them, setting their words on fire with the holiness of God (Isaiah 6:6–7).
The heat of the coals seared through my senses, a holy pain that was at once cleansing and empowering. I felt the fire of God settle upon my heart, burning away every impurity, every doubt, leaving only a desperate hunger for more of Him. The wind of God filled my sails, propelling me forward into the depths of His presence, where time and space no longer mattered, only the reality of the living God who was making Himself known.
And then the Lord spoke, His voice like the sound of many waters, filling the place with a reverberation that shook the very foundations. “Behold, I am coming soon. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). The words were a promise, a call to awaken from the slumber of routine, to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
As the vision faded, I was left with an insatiable longing—a longing for the real Jesus, the One who cannot be confined by tradition or expectation, the One whose glory fills the temple, whose fire consumes every heart, whose wind carries us into the uncharted territories of His presence. And I knew, with a certainty that could not be shaken, that I needed this God more today than I did yesterday, and I would need Him even more tomorrow. For in this holy encounter, I had tasted the goodness of the Lord, and nothing else would ever satisfy.
A Call to the Lord
Oh, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come, I call upon Your name. We stand before You, longing to see Your face, to experience Your unrestrained presence. Shake us from the slumber of routine, break through the walls of our expectations, and let Your glory fill our lives like never before. Let Your holy fire rest upon us, purifying our hearts, and let Your wind propel us into the depths of Your love and truth. We hunger and thirst for righteousness, knowing that only You can satisfy the longing of our souls.
Father, I pray that Your Spirit would flow freely among us, that the oil of Your anointing would pour over us, and that we would not settle for anything less than the fullness of Your presence. Fill us with the unexplainable glory of Your majesty, and let the cry of the seraphim and the worship of the elders be the cry of our hearts: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” We need You, Lord, more today than we did yesterday, and we will need You even more tomorrow. Draw us closer to You, and let our lives be a testimony of Your unfathomable goodness.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King, we pray. Amen.