(Previously Published on Mrs Words Blog)

There was a heaviness in the air. It was one that was full of expectation and promise – excitement even. It was the third and final night rally at Youth Camp. I was 16 years old. I was standing there at the front of the room, facing the stage. I could hear the bass strumming a rhythmic 3 chord riff, the bass drum keeping the driving tempo. My eyes were closed and leaking with unabated tears.

The people around me were standing in unguarded posture, breathing out words of utter surrender. I felt a burning, a fire, moving through my body from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. My hands, they were shaking and tingling and hot, so hot.

I couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out of my lips. They were of a language and a tongue that I didn’t know or understand. I had never experienced this before. I had never felt this way either – but I couldn’t stop to think. No, I wanted to feel. I wanted more. I wanted this to never end.

In my mind’s eye, I could see a space, maybe an arena – though I couldn’t see the walls. It was filled with people, no beings, perhaps angels all around. I looked up and saw in the sky more angels. Their beautiful wings on display. Some of them were holding instruments, others were singing.

I could hear the sound now – they were singing “Glory to God in the Highest. Hallelujah to the King”. The sound of thousands of voices, in perfect pitch and harmony. Exalting the Lord.

My tears increased, my body froze. My hands were raised to the heavens. My heart began sing with them, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty”.

An angel to my left was beckoning me forward – to move forward, or maybe just to look forward – I turned my face to the front and before me I saw an incredible, glorious light. A glow that I couldn’t even explain. And then in front of me, reaching out towards me, hands – open in an offering, a welcome perhaps.

I felt, rather than heard “Come, my child, you are welcome here in this place. This is my presence.”

I rested there and basked in His presence. His glory and splendour on full display.

I’m not sure how long, in earthly time that I was there. I’m not sure how it ended. But I know that I had experienced the inner sanctum of the presence of God, the throne room of the Most High. That I was singing with the angels. That I had met with the Lord and experienced the tangible presence of God.

And all I felt was His Love. His overwhelming, never-ending, undeserved, uncompromising, all-encompassing, amazing, limitless, welcoming, generous, beautiful LOVE!