I’ve been reading “The Chronicles of Narnia” series this year and The Lord has been using it to strengthen my understanding of the glory, greatness, and gentleness of Jesus. The Jesus figure in the series is named Aslan and He is terrifying, beautiful, tender, and regal all at the same time. In the sixth book of the series, “The Silver Chair”, his voice is described in the following way:

…and the voice was not like a man’s. It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in rather a different way.”

A heavy, golden voice that frightens the soul in a rather different way.

I want to know that voice.

I want to listen to it and soak in its’ healing, refining timbre.

Spoiler Alert: the result of the young girl, Jill’s, encounter with Aslan is a change in her. It’s a small seed of change, but change nonetheless.

Is that not the effect being in the presence of Jesus should have on the soul?

Is that not the same encounter Elijah, Moses, Joshua, and Paul formerly Saul all had when in the presence of The Holy One?

Similarly, in this current stage of my healing journey with Jesus, He is drawing me to focus on His glory. My soul is no longer satisfied with “religious slavery” striving to do and think and feel the right things out of fear and obligation. God is giving me the desire to know Him deeper simply because He is God. He is The Holy One who is worthy of my love, attention, obedience, and devotion.

And friend, this is healing. I’m not perfect or completely excellent in all areas of my life. In fact, there are some days where I feel stagnant and as though I am failing in my growth with God.

But his unchanging magnificence. His unchanging power. His unchanging glory speaks to the depths of my soul and inspires me to be better! It inspires me to focus less on insecurity, past pain, and my own shortcomings.

I believe this is the experience Moses had when He met with God:

Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant–the Ten commandments–on the stone tablets. When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.

Exodus 34: 28-30

Moses’ countenance changed simply from being in the presence of God. He experienced a spiritual osmosis, where the proximity and openness to God’s glory and character changed him from the inside out.

In my life, as I think about the glory of God–His awesome character and majestic splendor–my doubts start to give way to belief, faith, and hope. As I learn about and meditate on the extent of His love for His creation, my willingness towards repentance is strengthened. As I perceive how greatly formidable and fierce He is, my timid heart becomes a bit more bolder.

And the fact that all these characteristics exist within the person, Lord, and Savior of Jesus Christ, surrendering to Him becomes that much more attractive.

And friend, this is healing and restorative to my soul. His holiness makes me whole.

I desire the same for you.

Love and Light,

Kourtney Naomi <3

In other news, The Lord has allowed me the opportunity to publish my first book of poetry. It is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Book Leaf Publishing. I hope it is an encouragement to all who read it along this dynamic Pilgrim Journey.