Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Journey by Heidi Avery

It starts as a small quiet flicker, like candle light, though small, it subtly paints itself across the darkness gently illuminating and creating shadows of dark and hidden things. Pain, heartbreak, failures and worthlessness all dwell there dominating and thriving on the weary, fragile soul within. But, the light shed of that small quiet flicker is the start of something beautiful. Something longed for. Something far beyond that soul within. It’s a journey that can start no other way, but with a small quiet flicker.

Once started, it grows at a pace supernaturally set and eventually that flicker increases into a fiery, purposeful flame. It forces itself upon the fighting darkness, exposing the grey shadows that live there, replacing them with promises never heard, hope never had and a love never felt. The warmth of that flame is sweet salvation to the soul. It becomes a powerful source of strength, unfolding truth that begins to feed the waking soul within. This journey begins a battle over what was and what is to be. The struggle is between the flesh and that flame, both pursuing that seeking soul within. There can only be one victor, one ruler of that soul.

As the soul exchanges its weakness for the strength of the flame it becomes renewed and the flame transforms into a beautiful burning blaze, unstoppable against the darkness, putting to death all that once dwelled and ruled there. The hidden things in the darkness are replaced by a new and increasing faith and an all consuming love never thought to be known by the joyful soul within. The burning blaze roars out of control stirring the now thriving soul to action, revealing its glory. Once pursued, the soul now seeks the blaze for itself, drawing on it not just for strength and truth, but for purpose and direction. The soul now moves only by the light of that blaze and living in the peace that it radiates.

The things that once weakened and enslaved the soul are now powerless against the raging fire within. The fire is the Savior of the once weary soul. The hidden things are markers of what was and a means to what is to be, necessary, but no longer dominate. The hidden things in the darkness still attempt to control the soul with fear, but they’re no match for the blazing fire and as long as the soul continues to be fed and moved by the fire it lives peacefully and it experiences freedom. The soul rejoices in its freedom from the pull of darkness and freedom from the aches of its flesh. Not that it no longer deals with them, but that it is freed from them. It is free! Free to love the One who started the quiet flicker, to obey because of that love and to bring glory to its Savior.

Each soul is uniquely created for a divine purpose and set on a supernatural journey. The journey is not free from difficulties or trials, but can be filled with victories and triumphs if purpose and truth are revealed by the Savior. If the soul is focused on the hope of what’s promised to come it can endure the journey in peace and persevere. The journey will not end until the Savior returns and then it is a new journey that begins to something even more beautiful, something deeply longed for and something far, far beyond the soul within.

Romans 8: 18-27

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."

1 comment:

  1. With respect to difficulties and trials, I cling to Hebrews 5:8-9, "even though Jesus was God's son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered, in this way God qualified him." Even Jesus had to learn obedience from things he suffered. Jesus was an example to us on how we learn obedience and reverence for God by then things we suffer. Therefore, the more I find myself in challenging situations, the more I have the opportunity to learn how to become more obedient to my heavenly daddy.
    Kelli

    ReplyDelete