O loving father, why do you remain hidden? I’ve noticed that you also have given me many hidden blessings and I usually don’t realize it until much later! Quite sneaky, but in a good way! Then the following verse came to my mind.
Proverb 25:2 (NIV)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
Thank you God!
Galatians 5:16-26
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Works of the Flesh – sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies.
Fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
A face in the shadows by Eva Funderburgh licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
Your hand guides me through the valley of darkness. How gentle, tender and loving! Only you know all pitfalls and snares that lie throughout the valley of shadows. I just have to trust you and hold onto your hand as you lead me into safety. Even when it may look grim or doesn’t look right to me. Who am I to say I know better than You do? It may not make sense to my natural mind, but I will tell myself to just simply trust in you and hold onto Your loving, tender and gentle hands! I believe in You, I give You myself! It will lead me into a promised valley, a place of serenity and encompassing beauty.
“Trust me, I will keep you safe,” a father spoke to the nervous child standing on the edge of the pool. It was his first time at the pool. Such a tiny child standing hesitantly before the immense pool. The water sparkled with such a gentle glimmering. This required a huge leap of faith, into the unknown and uncertainty. The child was unsure, although the father knows the immense joy that awaits the child when he learns how to swim. All it takes is a small measure of faith and trust in the father. Are we like the child? If we don’t jump into the water, that means we don’t trust the father to take care of us. Or do we dare to trust the father and take a mighty leap of faith?
A child decides to take a leap of faith because he knows his father loves him and can be trusted. His father doesn’t fail him and keeps him afloat with his steady hand. The child is still nervous but realizes his father’s hand is keeping the child afloat. The father then gradually take his hand away but then the child panics as he sank slightly. Yet his father’s hand was always there to make sure he doesn’t sink completely. He repeats the process until the child can learn how to swim on his own. Sometimes we go through trials where it seems like we could sink or fail. We go through this process so we can learn how to “swim” and yet father’s loving hand is never too far away!
Our loving father knows what is best for us. His loving tender hands take away what is unfruitful and prunes us like a master gardener. He is very patient and His timing is precise!
John 15:1-5
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Psalm 17:8 (ESV)
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wingsPsalm 16:5 (NIV)
5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
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