Cindy Powell

Take me to that holy place
Take me to that sacred space
It’s the place where I can breathe –
The place where the air is pure

It’s the place I was created to dwell
The place where my spirit soars
It’s the atmosphere of heaven –
The place where the air is pure

There’s no turmoil or distraction there
There’s only truth and grace
Dwelling in your presence –
The place where the air is pure

I can breathe in your presence
I’m fully alive in your presence
I’m lost in love in your presence –
The place where the air is pure

For years I’ve intentionally sought out spiritual environments that are saturated with the Presence of God. There are certain places and certain people–some well known, but most not–that host and carry His presence to a degree that is not (yet) common in the Body of Christ.  For me, connecting with Him and His Body in this way is not just a matter of being something I enjoy–it’s something I need.  It is literally like being able to breathe again.

I was at one of those places last week. I was with a hungry group of people from a semi-local church that has, for years, placed an extremely high value (in action and not just with words) on truly hosting His presence. As we sought Him with united hearts and voices, I found myself, once again, refreshed, revived…and breathing freely.

We were created for the purity of heaven’s atmosphere. I’m wired in such a way that I tend to “feel” what’s in the atmosphere–both good and bad. That’s why those precious moments when local expressions of the Body are united in the simple and pure pursuit of His heart are so very precious and life-giving to me. That’s where the air is pure.

Thankfully, I’m finding  more of those places than ever before.  Places where people don’t just give lip-service to welcoming the Holy Spirit, but actually do welcome Him–however He chooses to show up. That’s because I’m finding more and more hearts that are simply hungry for Him. Even more, I’m finding more and more folks who want to seek His face together–without any agenda.  As a result, the atmosphere is shifting over lots of places–including over my own city (which is pretty miraculous and a story for another day 🙂 ).

We’re not “there” yet, but I think we’re on our way. So let’s continue to seek His face. Let’s continue to create time and space for Him to move any way He wants to move. Let’s find ways to give Him more than 20 minutes of programmed praise on a Sunday and really connect with His heart. Even better, let’s do it together.

If we do, before you know it–we’ll all be able to breathe.

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Apologies to anyone who may have clicked into a “now you see it, now you don’t” unfinished version of this post yesterday! I was working on it on my phone instead of my laptop (which I rarely do) and I accidentally hit publish. I deleted it as quickly as I could, but it wasn’t quite quick enough. Sorry!