Daily Devotional

GOD WITHHOLDS HIMSELF TO ENDEAR YOU TO HIM

January 22

hild of God, sometimes my children feel a bit cool spiritually and are worried about this pattern in their lives. There is a good explanation for this spiritual "drought." My word tells you that "for a small moment I have forsaken you, but with great compassion I will gather you." (Isaiah 54:7 NKJV) Have you ever heard the expression, "absence makes the heart grow fonder?" It is not exactly in the Bible, but it describes the effect that I have on my children as they grow in my love and in grace. If you feel distant and a little less spiritual at times, it is because I am making myself absent a bit so that your familiarity with your Father will be "shocked." In other words, I am preparing to move you to the next level of hunger for me and for my Holy Spirit to rise higher in your life and experience. "Familiarity breeds contempt" is another expression (a truth but not exactly biblical) which describes the effect. As a human being you require stimulation to higher and higher things in the Holy Spirit. As you come back to me and don't find me in the usual manner or places, you can "hunger and thirst after righteousness," (Matthew 5:6) which is directly from the Scriptures. Get the picture? Have you wondered if I have "forsaken" you at times? It is only a temporary thing to produce deep hunger in you for my Spirit's presence and operation in your life. Rejoice! You are going to the next level deeper and higher in your Father's experiences for your life and family. Remember child, I am at work in you and for you ever increasing the presence and power of the working of my grace in you to make you more and more like the Lord Jesus, and less and less like the person that you once were, making the unhealthy choices in your life that you once made. Good news for you! Child as you "Behold the glory of the Lord. You are being changed into His (beautiful, loving perfect) image." (II Corinthians 3:18 NKJV) It is an action which your Father is continually working in you. Again, I say to you Rejoice!

Prayer

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Father, I knew that something was going on in me. I do grow cold from time to time, and it drives me to seek you and be concerned for my spiritual welfare. I will see this coldness as a "wake-up" call from you to seek you on a deeper level and to hunger greater for the things of God in my life. I will make room for you Father. I welcome you and all that you wish to do in me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen!