I remember when I first began to be one of the millions of hungry souls searching and seeking my identity and purpose in life…daring to hope that I was more than what I saw in my reflection in the mirror.  My memories were full of experiences that claimed ownership of me but I wondered, “Was this all there was?  Was there really a purpose that I was even born?  To Jesus, did I even make any difference at all?”

It was along this personal relationship journey with Jesus that  His Word and Presence began to rumble and activate deep inside of me…and I finally began to get it…to believe in WHO and WHAT God said that I was…to Him.  Once I embraced Jesus, He gave me the keys to His home and I gave Him the keys to mine.  My life changed and intimacy between us became real life encounters that rocked me and defined me.

To this day, I still hold tightly to my time with Him and run to His side…anytime! No one can keep me from Him!  Truly, God has taught me well to run boldly to His throne of grace…to Him.  I don’t just have to need something from Him to go to Him, sometimes it is just to sit at His feet as He shares with me what is on His heart, or watch Him as He works, or listen to Him as teaches me, or maybe I just need Him to remind me that my world is more than what I see around me.

While my spiritual journey may be unseen by the human eye, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t real.  It is so real that I can hear His heartbeat when He holds me.  I can feel my hair move as He leans down whispering in my ear as He points to show me something that He wants me to see.

Oh yes, spiritually I know where my Jesus is.  This is what I want to share with you…His Upper Chambers.  His secret place – His private place – the place where He meets me…in His world.

I don’t always know when I am going to go to His place.  Sometimes it is a heaven-sent thought that calls me and other times just a personal longing that rises up when I am lonesome for Him.  No matter why, I just know that He is always there, always waiting, and always eager to see me.  There is nothing like watching the look in His eyes as I enter His chambers…

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 HIS UPPER CHAMBERS

 Psalm 4:1-3   Oh Lord my God…You are clothed with splendor and majesty…wrapped in light.  You stretched out the heavens like a tent and laid the beams of your upper chambers on the waters…clouds are your chariot and you ride on the wings of the wind.

I have to begin my story with leaning against God…resting upon Him.  I love to rest on Him! Well, truth to tell, I have to rest on Him…for there is no rest without Him.  Thinking and knowing my Jesus this way teaches me to rise high above all things because deep down I accept that I can always reach Him!  Sometimes I open my bible and read His Word…learning about what He thinks and feels.  Sometimes I call up and speak His Word that is memorized on the inside of me.  Sometimes I just think of Him and tell Him I love Him…and smile when He gives me that spirit to spirit hug.  Sometimes, I literally just lay my bible on top of my heart and let the God of the Word begin to respond to the Word of God deep within me.  And then other times, I just run for Him…

There is no life like the spiritual one.  There is no journey like the spiritual one.  When He calls me to come to Him or when I call on Him that I am coming…no matter…I am released to go and my spirit rises and soars seeking the one who woos like no other.   I simply let my spirit lead and I begin to see beyond my room.  The things of the world begin to grown dim and fade away.  My ears begin to hear things I can’t normally hear and my heart beats in anticipation of what is coming…like tonight…come with me…and share the Jesus that I see.

Gradually my vision clears and spiritually I find myself walking toward a huge gateway in front of me.  It shimmers iridescent – almost like not one single color can even lay claim to it.  No door is needed to cover this secret gateway because rotating above it is a massive flaming sword that promises that it will never be found by eyes of flesh.  Knowledge of His private passageway (referenced in Genesis 3:24) always excites me and I begin to run through the gate!  As I run along the stone pathway that runs behind it, lyrics of worship buried in my heart begin to rise and burst forth in spontaneous song.  I am coming Jesus, I am coming… as I sing.

Before long, I see the pathway is about to change as a clear blue marble staircase as wide as a river rises up – literally climbing into the heavens. Joyfully, I begin to climb the stairs – the stone feels so cool to my bare feet.  I pause for just a second so I can hear the mighty river that actually runs beneath it.  It is so awesome!!  The sound of the water reminds me of His voice so I jump up and keep climbing, faster and faster, knowing that my singing tells Him that I am coming.  In my spirit I hear His chuckle, and He says, “Hurry, precious one, hurry!”

It seems like the stairs rise forever but I know time has no meaning.  I glance back and can see the world that I have left behind.  Each step that I go further away brings me closer to Him.  It is truly amazing that all the things that take so much of my time and energy actually seem to matter so little in His world.  As my world falls away the clearer and more vibrant His world is revealed.

He is everywhere.  He is everything.  His heartbeat draws me with a rhythm that I know well.  “I am coming, Jesus!  I am coming!” I call out to Him as I climb the last few steps to reach the top.

Part 2 continued tomorrow night…

Patti Corbello Archer

HIS UPPER CHAMBERS…Encounters in God’s Appointment Book

September 25, 2001