Acts 22:6-10 – “As I was en route and near Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. ⁷ Then I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ⁸ I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ So I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything that you have been designated to do.’”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was filled with the importance and life-changing impact of personal encounters. Through a personal encounter with God, we are given strength, courage, wisdom, and ability beyond human capacity to understand.

Samson looked like an ordinary man but was supernaturally strong. The Philistines enticed Delilah with 1100 silver coins to discover the secret to his supernatural strength. Samson’s physical passion betrayed him, and he lost his power.   Only in repentance did he regain his strength.

In Acts 22, Paul recounts his personal encounter on the Damascus Road that eternally transformed him.   He saw the light!   He saw the blinding light of the Spirit of God, and that light (personal experience) caused him to face his condition and paved the way to complete deliverance and total transformation.

One minute in God’s presence can change us forever!   One minute in His presence strips religiosity from us supernaturally.  One minute in His presence enables us to see into the kingdom realm and move to that higher plane of life that only those who have been transformed can see.

Paul saw the light AND heard the voice!   Just having our sin exposed is insufficient. Unless we hear His voice, we will remain blind, bitter, brittle, and unchanged.   Once we hear Him, IF we obey Him, the world loses a member of the army of flesh, and Heaven gains a new inductee into the Army of Heaven.

A personal encounter shifts our desires from vengeance, avarice, greed, lust, and self to restoration, forgiveness, and purity, and empowers us supernaturally!   Personal encounters are eternal, but since the flesh is still present, we need frequent, if not daily, personal encounters with Jesus.

Lord, open our eyes to see, our ears to hear.  Open our hearts to obey. Make us champions in the Spirit with strength that causes people to ask, “Where do you get that strength?”   Help us to have the commitment of total surrender that says, “I’m Yours, LORD! What should I do?”

The promise is Life, the provision is Grace, and the Anointing breaks every yoke!  You are not a might be or could be, but you are more than a conqueror. Exercise that authority and keep it fresh by seeking personal encounters with Jesus!

I pray that God sends divine encounters and divine appointments your way today!