The worship time was great as usual. Our principal, John, spoke some really wise thoughts around the Gospel/Easter message. He and his wife, Debbie, shared a beautiful song with us. Then they opened up some response time. There was a table at which you could take Communion. There was a piece of wood to which you could nail a note to God to show your surrender to Him. There was a large cross hung at the middle of the stage where you could kneel before God. And there was the opportunity to continue singing in worship.
One thing I really loved about this time was that as people in the music team felt lead to respond, others took their place, allowing them to do that. It was a really Spirit lead thing in that sense.
At one point during all of this, I was sitting on the floor. I had just prayed for someone and was feeling a real closeness to God. I was just enjoying sitting in His Presence. Anaru, one of the vocal majors, took the place up front and with a single acoustic guitar, began playing a song. The words of it washed over me and really resonated with what my heart was feeling. My eyes were closed and at first I began just swaying to the music. Then, a hand gesture. Next, a deeper sway. Suddenly, without expecting it or knowing what was happening, I spun to standing up and was dancing in this big open space in the middle of the room! My body started just expressing worship to God through dance and movement. I felt controlled from outside of myself and it was like my heart was soaring! Then I was on the floor again, breathing deeply. My hands were raised and I realized that I was shaking. My heart was beating insanely fast and I could feel the Holy Spirit pulsing through my body.
I've choreographed dances of worship. I've felt God's Spirit in me whilst singing praise. But never before then have I felt physically, literally controlled by the Spirit!
This may all sound a little freaky to you. I get that, because it sounds freaky to me too! But this was a genuine real experience I had. It was something that really effected me. It's so exciting to think what God can do with us when we surrender our hearts to Him. He is so good at using us to bring honour to His Name at the same time as filling our very souls with His love and grace.
My encouragement to you, is to keep looking for those moments of intimacy with God. Don't let them slip past. Cherish the time you spend in God's Presence and let Him touch you in a real, unforgettable way.
