Tag: hidden blessings

The Pit and the Wilderness (Part 2)

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD10 Comments

In this last part of The Pit and the Wilderness, we look at Discovering the Promises, The Hidden Blessings, and The Sustaining Power of His Spirit.

    Discovering the Promises     

 “I am a stranger in the earth:
hide not thy commandments from me.”
Psalm 119:19

When we look at the words that John wrote to those who followed Christ, we see the promises that are ours through our pilgrimage here.  In the same sentence before “the whole world lieth in wickededness,” he said, “And we know that we are of God.” 1 John 5:19

In the previous verse, he said,

“We know that everyone who has been born of God
does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God
protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.”

He has brought us out of the pit. We can travel the remainder of our journey with this assurance.

Paul knew and experienced the promises.

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins
to deliver us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Galatians 1:3-5

Simon Peter shared these promises.

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.“ 2 Peter 1:3-4

Hidden Blessings

Many say that we fail to obtain these blessings because they are hidden from us in our disobedience.  Our heavenly Father does not waste anything ~ just as Jesus did not give His life to suffer and die in vain but to effectively save all His people (Matthew 1:21).

How can God’s blessings be refused?

He is able ~ exceeding abundantly able ~ to bring His own children to receive what He has prepared for us (Ephesians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 2:9) He is God. He is the Father. He is not disappointed ~ rather He rejoices over us because of His own work (Zephaniah 3:17). He prepared before the foundation of the world what He brings to pass according to the power of His Holy will.

We can pray to God the prayer of Isaiah 64:1

“Rend the heavens and come down, as the melting fire burneth,
to make known your name among the adversaries.”

But we also, as His people, praise Him with Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:1.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in Christ, has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
in heavenly places.”

These blessings are for His children who live daily in the wilderness, through His Word and Spirit, enduring with faith and persevering to the goal.

God does not hide the blessings from us ~ we find them as we continue on our way. They are seemingly hidden in our circumstances. They turn up where we might least expect them. This is the experience of living faith that He works through us.  Through every trial, He is waiting to bless us.

Sustaining Power of His Spirit

 “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.
My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.”
Psalm 119:24-25

His Spirit is every moment sustaining us. These thoughts of hope and assurance have remained with me since that vision of the pit. There have been moments of trial in which my paths have taken me through valleys, sometimes to the mountaintop for a special time with Him but these were temporary.

As I continued on my way, the pit was revealed again and again, sometimes on each side with only room to walk, as over a narrow bridge, so that I could almost feel a hand on my leg; other times as if on a tightrope extended above the openings.

Other times I have had to cross great streams that would have carried me away except that He was holding on to me and carrying me across, or holding me as I was carried downstream.

There have been paths through tunnels,  blackness surrounding me ~ at times having little more than a faint light ahead ~ but as I continued, the light became brighter.

There have been days so dark that it seemed as if I was in a dungeon with no light at all, with only the hope that He would bring me out in His timing.

It is during these times that I remember ~ this darkness is nothing compared to the darkness of the pit from which God has brought us, and of even greater darkness that is yet to come for those who are not His.

“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 25:30

His grace is truly sufficient for all times and for all trials (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

As we continue through this wilderness, we who are in Christ will encounter the enemy at every turn, but we are assured that we are not alone. God is always with us.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven,
having the key of the bottomless pit
and a great chain in his hand.”
Revelation 20:1

Thank you, Lord, for the wilderness.
In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Fran

Suggested reading: God is Our Goal

Image: Pixabay

Find Your Blessings

On By francesrogersIn CONTENTMENT, GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD10 Comments
Who knows how many eggs are hidden on any Easter weekend, and perhaps not found. For the toddlers, eggs are hidden in sight so that they are easily found. For older children, the eggs are hidden so that they are more difficult to find.
Our heavenly Father promises blessings to His children. He makes His blessings known to us as newborns and small children without much effort on our part. Our eyes are opened to His blessings through a new birth. He continues to bless us as we age, but we find them in different ways.
Last Wednesday the Lord gave me a direction as Jerry and I journeyed early in the morning before daybreak to the local hospital. We were instructed to “look for a blessing” in the day ahead. Little did we know that we would be there longer than planned and that He would continue to unfold blessings everywhere and everyday for the next six days.
Blessings came in the events of the first day with our daughter, who took time away from her job to be with us, and through the hours of the procedure with nursing staff, doctors, family and church family.
Because we did not come home the same day as we had hoped, Jerry was admitted as an in-patient, for major surgery on Friday. The direction to “look for a blessing” continued. Now I know that I should have journaled these blessings; they were too many to remember.
The experience of those six days, coming home on Monday, looking for the blessing of Jerry’s healing continues to bear fruit and the sharing of this blog.

How do we find these blessings that God has hidden for us?

There are three places in particular that we are “blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”
  1. Blessings are hidden in the knowledge and wisdom of God’s Word. The more we read, study and look for these blessings the more we will find.
  2. Blessings are hidden in everyday circumstances, especially in times of adversity. This is where the Holy Spirit directs us to focus on God, our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He is there in His promises to be with us always. It is during these times that we are more in need and able to see the blessings He has for us.
  3. Blessings are hidden in relationships, beyond those that seem the most affectionate and amiable. Loving our neighbors, no matter their disposition, is a blessing from our heavenly Father, and will multiply as we relate in the Spirit of Christ to those who are not blessed in Christ. We can be a blessing to them as we share our concerns for them in a way they are not used to.
There is much more we could say about these blessings hidden from us, but revealed by the Holy Spirit. Tired from this last week, needing for both of us to recuperate, I wanted to at least share this experience with you. As soon as possible, I will share The Patience That Leads to Contentment.
In the meantime, look for and find your blessings hidden in Christ, His Word and everyday circumstances. Thank Him and praise Him for all things.
Dear Father, you, indeed, are exceeding abundantly able to do more than we can ask or think by the power that works in and through us. Please continue to open our eyes to the blessings of your kingdom for your children here on earth and let us share them with others. In Jesus’ name, I pray, thank you and praise you. Amen.