Follow the cloud

One thing that has been so clear this week is that God has spoken into my life.

Everywhere I have turned God has spoke through something or someone.

I had a word from an old gentleman who attends the Salvation Army Church that my wife leads on Sunday morning. This gentleman has been struggling with illness and has been in hospital until recently. One of the effects of the illness he has is that he can sometimes get confused. He is a former Pentecostal Minister who is full of fire and brimstone and is not slow at pouring that fire on whoever happens to be there at the time.

On Sunday morning, just as the morning service was about to begin, his wife approached me as I settled into a back row corner seat and informed me that Mike had a word to share with me. I said thank you and I promised her I would come and see him after the service.

I wasn't expecting much as he has sadly been really confused recently.

But

As soon as Dawn said the last Amen that morning, I headed up to see Mike. He invited me to sit on his seated walker as there was no other seat available. I shook his trembling hand and noted how pale and unwell he looked.

Yet

He had a steely look in his grey eyes.

A look I've seen before in the eyes of people with a serious prophetic gift.

I was expecting a long word.

But

in a moment of intense clarity, he spoke just three.

"Follow the cloud."

And

I almost dismissed the word from immediately, thinking it didn't really make any sense.

But

I could not for the life of me shake it off.

It would not let me go all of Sunday. Even as I watched the football on Sunday afternoon I kept seeing those steely grey eyes and hearing the words, "Follow the cloud."

It was still with me Monday as I sat at my desk scoffing a croissant and drinking my first black coffee of the day.

So I just googled "follow the cloud."

I was immediately alerted to a scripture.

Exodus 13: 20-22

This scripture is part of the account of the Israelite's journey out of Egypt, just before they would eventually cross the Red Sea, the big parting of the waves and all that.

"After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By the day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

Wow!

It struck me straight away that these guys recently released from captivity were on the edge of a journey into the wilderness. Up until this point they knew the roads, but soon they would enter uncharted territory. Their only hope? to be guided by God who manifested as a pillar of cloud for them to follow.

Me?

Recently I have been released from a kind of captivity.

The captivity of hurt, self pity, self doubt and a little ego thrown in for good measure.

I've been through four years of intense refinement.

And now free, I find myself camped on the edge of an exciting wilderness.

A wilderness that holds much opportunity as I walk towards the things God has promised me. The promised land if you like.

And

I have to follow the cloud.

I require intense guidance.

And I have fix my eyes on Jesus, the ultimate pillar of cloud, who will lead me to what God wants for me, not what I want.

Because what is the alternative?

An alternative I know way too well.

And that is to follow your own way.

I've tried that and I got a bit a lost.

Which leads me to two other things that have happened that God has spoken to me through.

One was a piece of writing from Oswald Chambers, a passage that my boss shared with me at work. This text says that the call of God is implicit and can never be stated explicitly. In other words the call of God on your life is not to an organisation or a person but the call is into comradeship with God.

And

I have been really focusing lately on what the call of God is on my life.

Is it to minister, to go back into officership, to do what?

I am desperate to pick up my ministry again,and believe that is where the Lord is leading me.

But

I have to remember that All I have to do is focus on following the cloud, keep in total relationship with God and follow him wherever he goes.

The second thing hit me like a rocket.

I binge watched the new Netflix documentary on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

I have followed this case since the day it happened and have set it as one of my prayer projects to pray for her and her family and the situation.

I was floored by the police chief who is the former head of the Child exploitation and online protection service.

He shared how he was head of the anti terrorism unit and knew it was an immensely important role. He was asked to head up the then new Child exploitation and online protection centre. He shared how he felt he was stepping down the ladder as it were and it was almost a demotion from his prominent post. He then was asked to speak at a conference in Cambodia. While there he was taken to a tip and watched as the child trafficking rings operated openly exploiting children who had gone to this dump to search for food. This impacted him deeply. As he was on the flight home to the UK he was so touched by what he saw that a passion rose within him to do something about it.

Then

He said something that impacted me.

He said He decided that he had to "Pack way his ego," He had to put away any feelings of being demoted or sent to a task he had initially thought was a lesser offer, and take the job he was being offered.

This was for me that night.

I have to put any feelings of what in my eyes would be best for my future and follow the cloud.

Pack away my ego.

Follow Jesus into what he has called me to, and make a massive difference to the lives of those who are in desperate need of the love, grace and mercy of a saviour.

So hey

Are you on the edge of the wilderness?

Are you feeling lost or wayward?

Then

As you walk into the uncharted territory of the future?

Pack away the ego, answer the call.

And

Follow the cloud