Who have been my travel companions on my "Magi Journey"? Parents, pastors, teachers, mentors, people who have helped me find my way to a more intimate relationship with Christ. I would say most especially my parents, and KB in Madison. How did they help me? Primarily by the example of seeking and then living what they find. Seeking to know God by studying Scripture, by daily prayer, and by yielding their will to the Spirit. Living their understanding of true discipleship, no matter the cost. They also encouraged me to do the same kind of seeking and obeying, even if the particulars for me were different from the particulars for them. That is a hugely significant thing because some parents/teachers/leaders would have their children/students/followers conform to their own particulars, but I was blessed to have Christ-models who modeled for me primarily discernment. Thanks be to God!
Who threatened me on my journey or the course of my path? Those who harmed, abused, or bullied me. Those who ignored opportunities to help. I still feel some significant bitterness when I remember those kinds of experiences, so, clearly, I have more forgiving to do! But I have also always marveled at how the Lord has never let others' bad wills/actions thwart His own intention to bless me, AND (and this is really incredible) the Lord doesn't let anything go to waste! God uses everything in my life for my good and for His glory. Scriptures promise He will do this, but I still find it to be amazing and cause for much rejoicing when I see Him actually doing it.
That's why I don't condemn myself for continuing to process whatever more I need to forgive. The Lord is growing my spirit. The Lord gives me ways and opportunities for healing, and it comes in stages. So the Spirit confronts me with a bit of something, we chew on it, process it as thoroughly as possible for that time, I heal, I forgive, I grow. Then at another time, we do it all again, only deeper in my soul. The Lord is growing my spirit to have a more intimate relationship with His, with Him.
When I imagine arriving where my North-Star has come to rest, I see Heaven. I see Jesus greeting me with open arms and all of Heaven behind Him rejoicing. "Welcome my beloved! Welcome Home!" When I consider the complete healing I will experience in Heaven, the wholeness-in-Christ that makes all hurts harmless, why can I not assume that now? Because I'm not there yet. And that reality is significant. But I can claim the hope. And that hope is also significant; it also has substance. So, in hope, I can hold a Joy that feeds me and that heals me.
Lord Jesus, help me co-operate with the healing You want to accomplish in me today. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. And amen! ♡
Reference: Silf, Inner Compass, Chapter 7 "Making Our Way in the Dark"
Who threatened me on my journey or the course of my path? Those who harmed, abused, or bullied me. Those who ignored opportunities to help. I still feel some significant bitterness when I remember those kinds of experiences, so, clearly, I have more forgiving to do! But I have also always marveled at how the Lord has never let others' bad wills/actions thwart His own intention to bless me, AND (and this is really incredible) the Lord doesn't let anything go to waste! God uses everything in my life for my good and for His glory. Scriptures promise He will do this, but I still find it to be amazing and cause for much rejoicing when I see Him actually doing it.
That's why I don't condemn myself for continuing to process whatever more I need to forgive. The Lord is growing my spirit. The Lord gives me ways and opportunities for healing, and it comes in stages. So the Spirit confronts me with a bit of something, we chew on it, process it as thoroughly as possible for that time, I heal, I forgive, I grow. Then at another time, we do it all again, only deeper in my soul. The Lord is growing my spirit to have a more intimate relationship with His, with Him.
When I imagine arriving where my North-Star has come to rest, I see Heaven. I see Jesus greeting me with open arms and all of Heaven behind Him rejoicing. "Welcome my beloved! Welcome Home!" When I consider the complete healing I will experience in Heaven, the wholeness-in-Christ that makes all hurts harmless, why can I not assume that now? Because I'm not there yet. And that reality is significant. But I can claim the hope. And that hope is also significant; it also has substance. So, in hope, I can hold a Joy that feeds me and that heals me.
Lord Jesus, help me co-operate with the healing You want to accomplish in me today. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. And amen! ♡
Reference: Silf, Inner Compass, Chapter 7 "Making Our Way in the Dark"
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