An Awesome Place

Any place where you meet God is an awesome place.

“Jacob happened upon a particular place and spent the night. […] Jacob awoke … and said, “The LORD is certainly in this place … How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!’”—Genesis 28:11, 16–17 NASB

Jacob fled for his life, heading toward Haran, the land of his mother’s family. There he hoped to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, who was angry because Jacob had tricked him into selling his birthright.

One evening Jacob stopped for a rest, and as he slept that night, he dreamed of a ladder going from the earth to Heaven. He saw angels ascending and descending and heard God promise great blessings and prosperity to him and his family.

When he woke up, Jacob realized the dream’s significance, and it was a turning point in his life. He also recognized he had stopped in a special place—a place where God met him in a personal way. This was an “awesome” place, where Jacob experienced God’s presence and glimpsed His eternal plans.

As He did on many other occasions, God had a special work to do, and He chose to do it in a special place. Yes, He is with us all the time, in every place. But the Bible tells us that some places are special to Him—places where we are called, where He has a special anointing, where He wants to speak to us, and where we can learn new truths. As Jacob discovered, these are places where God can transform our lives.

Today, remember that God has special places just for you. Be on the alert, ready to follow Him and encounter His presence.

Reflection Question: Do you have a special place where you meet God in worship and prayer?