You cannot find yourself if nobody is there ∙

You cannot find yourself if nobody is there ∙

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13

Isaiah 55:6-9

 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.

 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the LORD. And He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer’s doctoral concentration was counseling psychology. He is the bestselling author of 20 books. Dr. Dyer wrote, “Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.” The idea of retraining your will mind has great practical value. The question is, “what are you retraining your mind to think and believe?”

We cannot find ourselves if we do not know who and what we are. People have been searching for answers for millennia. Many, many solutions have been proposed. Most of them are “all about me!” They put you at the center of all things, and are self-absorbed. “The idea of finding yourself simply means accessing your confidence, natural and potential abilities, sense of self-worth, self-reliance, and independence” (Dyer).

The Father has a different modality. In His kingdom, it is all about finding Him. When we find Him, we truly find ourselves, and we discover our real identity as the dearly beloved, adopted children of the King.

There are two entirely different ways suggested that will enable individuals to find themselves and experience inner peace and tranquility.

The first is man’s way. There are many proposals and schemes available. One has been called the “self-help movement.” It centers around becoming something that you are not, the ideal you. What you are capable of becoming, according to this scheme, is far greater than you could ever imagine. In some instances, you can become an enlightened being, just like the Father and His angels.

The Father’s way is totally on the opposite end of the continuum. The Father’s way is called sanctification, and it is about becoming what we already are as a result of our rebirth through the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Newton wrote Amazing Grace. Newton spoke of an inner transformation that occurred because of the Father’s inward work when he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed! (Newton (1779)

The sense of feeling lost, purposeless, forlorn, and without hope is common to the human race. How can you find yourself? You cannot find yourself if nobody is there.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures” (John F. Kennedy).

Father thank You that You seek to transform the spirit of each of Your children’s minds (Ephesians 4:23). You dream that we may think Your thoughts after You.

INSIGHT

The Father God is not playing hide and seek with the people of planet Earth. He wants to be found. He encourages people to look for Him. Through Isaiah, the Father cries out to each person individually. Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6).

The problem is not on the Godward side. The problem is on the manward side. Many people simply do not want anything to do with the Father. Rather than seek Him, they seek to avoid Him at all costs. They are running away from the Father. People are both wayward and wicked. And they like it that way. The Father reaches out, but there is an urgency present. Time is literally running out.

Imagine in your mind’s eye the medieval time of castles and kings. The land had been invaded. And people all around knew to run to the castle for safety and protection. Perhaps there was some type of early warning system that consisted of large horns or drums that were sounded from the highest watchtowers of the castle. The people knew they had to run immediately in the castle’s direction whenever the warning was heard. Why was timing so important? Because eventually, the castle would raise its drawbridge, drop its iron gate, and close its inner doors in preparation for the coming siege. After that point, entry into the castle was no longer possible. People on the outside would be left to the mercy of the invaders who had no mercy.

Mercy and protection are available inside of the Father’s kingdom. But people must change their way of thinking and acting, forsake their evil, selfish ways and return to the Father. The Father promises compassion and forgiveness. Their sins will be pardoned. The appropriate steps of action are clearly laid out. But each person must individually decide.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 If you will seek Me and search for Me with all your heart, you will find me, says the LORD.

What a fantastic offer and a magnificent promise. However, there is a significant disconnect between people and the Father. The Father explains why.

Isaiah 55:8-9

 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Father explains “why people must reject and forsake their old ways of behavior and turn to accept the criteria set down by God. Put as plainly as possible; the prophet says people do not act or think like God.”

“The thoughts of an Almighty God who has created the world, controls the history of nations, and plans what will happen to each person have a world perspective that is beyond the realm of human comprehension” (Gary Smith).

Being a part of God’s Forever Family requires gradual inward transformation. We are earthbound because of our own human limitations and thoughts. When we become children of the King, a lifelong journey begins. We learn to think His thoughts after Him. And willingly choose to allow His ways to become our ways.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 4-17-2

© Dr. H 2022

How can we keep ourselves clean?

How can we keep ourselves clean?

How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. – Psalm 119:9

Psalms 119:10-16

 10 I have tried hard to find you – don’t let me wander from your commands.

 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

 12 I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

 13 I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.

 14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.

 15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.

 16 I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.

Psalms 119:97-105

 97 Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.

 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

 99 Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws.

 100 I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.

 103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

 104 Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Thousands of words are written on the importance of commitment. Particularly regarding human relationships. “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us” (Tim Keller).

Commitment to those we love is very important, yet as children of the King, we have an opportunity to make a much higher commitment with far more outstanding results. What is this commitment? It is a commitment to the Word of God. To be all in and deeply in love with it. We fall in love with the Word; it draws us into a deep, personal, loving relationship with the Father, the living God.

If we want to please the Father and honor Him with our lives, we must get to know His Word. The Bible warns us of dangers ahead, steers us toward the heart of God, and gives us the wisdom to flourish in a dark age (Stanley).

Many children of the King “have never experienced the power and encouragement available to them through memorizing Scripture. When we lock portions of God’s Word in our mind, they remain available always to help and strengthen us in tough times” (Stanley).

How do we get there from here? David shows us the way. The answer is simple yet challenging. It requires an intentional commitment to read, reflect upon, meditate, contemplate, and memorize the Word of God. David demonstrates his tremendous love for the Father by treasuring His Word in his heart. He is determined to limit his sin against the Father and not disobey Him. He recognizes that the Father has provided a solution. So he sets his heart and mind on treasuring the Word of God.

The Hebrew word translated as hidden, treasured, stored up is tsaphan. Tsaphan has the idea of regarding something as highly valued and precious. But David exemplifies more than merely highly regarding the Word of God. He loves and delights in it. It is so sad that such love is rare among children of the King.

His inner devotion to the Lord also finds expression in a teachable spirit (Psalms 119:12) and contentment (Psalms 119:14, 16) (VanGemeren).

REFLECT & PRAY

If we walk in the light of God’s Word, we will not stumble in the dark.

Father continually encourages me to search your Word and store it in my heart. May I treasure it always.

INSIGHT

The Father has given us His Word to provide light and direction for everyday living. When we regularly neglect time in the Word, our perception is dimmed as we vainly attempt to see and comprehend. Sadly stray from His best. “Many Christians today have never experienced the power and encouragement available to them through memorizing Scripture. When we lock portions of God’s Word in our mind, they remain available always to help and strengthen us in tough times” (Stanley).

Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart. (NLT)

Psalms 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart. (NAS)

“The best book in the world is the Bible. The best place to put it is in the heart. The best reason for putting it there is that it saves us from sinning against God” (BBC).

Psalms 119, written by David, is the longest chapter in the Bible, with 176 verses and 2426 words. It contains 22 sections. Each section has eight verses. Why 22? The Hebrew alphabet contains 22 letters. Every verse in each section starts with a Hebrew word that begins with the same Hebrew letter. For example, the first section containing eight verses begins with the Hebrew letter Aleph. The verses in the next section start with the Hebrew letter Beth, etc.

“Left to ourselves, we often don’t know which way leads to life and which way ends in death; we remain in the dark. But God’s Word provides us with a searchlight to cut through the darkness and lead us to safety” (Stanley).

For children of the King, the question is, how do we avoid the pitfalls prevalent around us? How do we overcome the spiritual and moral plight we continually face? And worst case, when we fail, how do we resume our intimate relationship with the Father and experience renewed cleansing and purity?

It begins with recognizing that the Father is entirely different from people in how He thinks and takes action. His thoughts and ways are immeasurably loftier and more magnificent than we could possibly imagine.

Isaiah 55:8-9

 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

 9 “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

We are finite creatures, yet He has established direct access and communication to His infinite thoughts, ways, and resources. They are ready and prepared for us to experience. How do we accomplish this? David shows us the way. It begins with studying and pondering the Word of God. But then we must take it a step further. With determined singleness of purpose, we must meditate on God’s precepts and internalize them through memorization. This opens a marvelous and unimaginable door to a merciful and magnificent Friend who comes alongside us and helps.

The Word of God is living, active, and transformational. David had the wonderful experience of falling in love with the Word of God and taking delight in it. He was transformed from the inside out.

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© Dr. H 2022

Standing alone ∙

Standing alone ∙

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:1

Ephesians 2:8-9

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Martin Luther was a monk, a Reverend Father in the Roman Catholic Church. He had a Master of Arts in Sacred Theology. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his “95 Theses” on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. They challenged several teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church firmly held and taught that salvation was possible through “good works.”

Luther’s “95 Theses” set forth two central beliefs. The first and primary was that the Bible was the only authority to base Christian teaching and doctrine. Second, salvation was by faith alone and not by works. His actions sparked the Protestant Reformation. His writings changed the course of the religious and cultural history of the Western world.

In July 1520, Pope Leo X issued a papal bull that decreed that Luther’s propositions were heretical and gave Luther 120 days to recant in Rome. Luther refused to recant, and on January 3, 1521, Pope Leo excommunicated Martin Luther from the Catholic Church.

On April 17, 1521, Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms in Germany. Again he refused to recant. He stood tall; he stood alone and concluded his defense with the following declaration: “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason (I do not accept the authority of popes and councils because they have contradicted each other), my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. So help me God. Amen.”

This has since been condensed to one simple sentence: “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me.”

Based upon his insight and understanding of the truth of the Scriptures, Martin Luther was willing to take a dissentient position in defiance of the religious authorities of his day.  His conscience had become a willing captive to the Word of God.

He stood alone.

Many people in Scripture stood alone and defied the authority of secular and religious leaders when they went against the clear teaching of Scripture.

The story of Daniel in the lion’s den comes to mind. Darius, the ruler of Persia, had recognized Daniel’s abilities and trustworthiness. He became second-in-command under Darius. This made the other Persian officials jealous and hateful. They concocted a plot to pass an unrighteous law that no one could pray except to Darius for 30 days. They implied that Daniel went along with this decree. Daniel had done no such thing. When the law was passed, Daniel continued his daily prayers as usual. He stood alone against all of the power and authority of the Persian kingdom and its leader Darius.

Darius had the highest admiration for Daniel. He knew he had been tricked by Daniel’s envious counterparts. He was furious and tried to find a loophole to rescue Daniel, but he was trapped by the inflexibility of his own decree (Daniel 6:14). Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den to be devoured. Darius spent the night tossing and turning and fearful that his loyal, devoted servant Daniel would be destroyed. Darius prayed for Daniel in his own way – “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you” (Daniel 6:16).

We know the rest of the story. Daniel lived and was supernaturally protected by an angel sent from the Father. However, all those who had maliciously plotted against him and their families were thrown into the lion’s den and became a feline feast.

REFLECT & PRAY

By the Scriptures alone, through the work of Christ alone, we have been saved by grace alone through faith alone.

Father thank You that You have offered me salvation, and I have accepted it. Encourage me to stand alone as so many of Your servants have faithfully done throughout the ages.

INSIGHT

Luther’s bold stand did not happen in a vacuum. For years Luther had studied and taught the book of Romans. He had struggled and wrestled with the meaning of the words “righteous” and “righteousness of God.” Luther wrote that they “struck my conscience as flashes of lightning, frightening me each time I heard them.”

Then came an amazing, miraculous discovery and awakening. He attributed his remarkable breakthrough in understanding to the work of the Holy Spirit alone.

He realized that the righteousness that Paul was speaking of is not merely the righteous character of Father God Himself. But instead, it was the righteousness that God freely gives by His grace to people who do not possess righteousness on their own. Putting it in other words, the righteousness of God is a gift of grace that the Father gives to every one of each child of the King. Luther wrote, “When I discovered that, I was born again of the Holy Ghost. And the doors of paradise swung open, and I walked through.”

The Protestant Reformation changed the then known European world. Once again, salvation by faith alone was known and taught. As a result, down through the years, untold myriads have entered the Father’s kingdom by faith alone.

The Five Solas have been passed down to us through the centuries. The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans). They summarize the Protestant Reformation’s basic theological principles. “Sola” is Latin meaning “alone” or “only,” and the corresponding phrases are:

Sola Fide, by faith alone.

Sola Scriptura, by Scripture alone.

Solus Christus, through Christ alone.

Sola Gratia, by grace alone.

Soli Deo Gloria, glory to God alone.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 4-16-2

© Dr. H 2022

The Father’s watchful care ∙

The Father’s watchful care ∙

He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. – Psalms 91:15

 Psalms 91:1-6

 1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

 2 This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.

 6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

Abandonment is a subjective emotional state in which people feel undesired, left behind, insecure, forsaken, or discarded. People experiencing emotional abandonment often feel a great sense of loss. A crucial source of support has been cut off or withdrawn. Abandonment conveys a subliminal message for the one who experiences it, “you are not valuable,” “you are not important,” or “you are not worth my time and energy.” If left unchecked, a downward spiral of rejection can ensue, leading to tremendous self-doubt and ultimately shame.

Intermittent periods of time when we feel left out, or unsupported are regrettably a part of living in a fallen world. But heartache, loss, and profound sadness can become overwhelming when it becomes chronic and repeated. People become numb, calloused, and even self-destructive. This is often accompanied by a sense of dread or fear that those we rely upon most will not be there when we need them.

Psalms 33:18 The LORD takes notice of those who rely upon him, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness

The Father watches over His children. We are safe and secure when we rely upon His unfailing lovingkindness. While He is invisible to our physical eyes, His “eye is always on us.” He is always there. He is concerned and involved. The Father lovingly watches over His children. Rather than losing self-worth because of our estrangement from people, we can enhance our sense of self-esteem knowing that our very BFF created all children of the King with tremendous worth and value. His eyes and His heart are with us.

The Lord Jesus Christ has been there. He has experienced far greater rejection and abuse the most of us could ever imagine. Therefore, it is competent and able to come alongside us when we suffer separation from those closest.

Isaiah 53:3 He was despised, rejected, forsaken, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father is always near. In prayer, we connect our need to God’s supply. We bring our emptiness to God’s fullness and ask Him to satisfy us. Our deficits are no match for His abundance, and our cries find a home in His ears (Stanley).

Lord, thank You for the confidence and certainty You provide because we are constantly under Your watchful care.

INSIGHT

The Father protects and delivers His children in life’s darkest valleys. . The psalmist’s description of the Father’s protection is couched in metaphorical language: “shelter,” “shadow,” and “refuge and . . . fortress.” The first two words suggest the imagery of a bird under whose wings its younglings find safety (Psalms 91:4; 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7). The other two words suggest a stronghold or military installation (Psalms 18:2; 61:3) (VanGemeren).

In Psalms 91, The Father is pictured as delivering, safeguarding, and encouraging His children. The ultimate security of each of the Father’s children is found in Him and Him alone. The names He is called in  Psalms 91 illustrate His ability to do this. He is The Most High – Elyon (Sovereign Ruler); He is The Almighty – Saddai (All powerful).

Children of the King may confidently put their trust in Him as their refuge, fortress, and safe place. Our King is powerful, dependable, kind, sympathetic, and trustworthy.

In the New Testament, the enemy, who knows Scripture as well as anyone, tempts the Lord Jesus Christ by twisting and misquoting Psalms 91. The enemy entices the Lord Jesus Christ to put the Father’s promise of protection to an ill-timed and ill-advised test. He dares the Lord Jesus Christ to jump off the top of the temple and prove that angels will protect him (Matthew 4:6).

Psalms 91:11,12

 11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.  

 12 They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

The Lord Jesus Christ was terse and direct. He confronted the enemy by quoting Scripture back to him. He effectively resisted the temptation.

Matthew 4:7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’”

Undaunted, the enemy does not miss a beat and simply moves on to the next temptation. And so it is with us; the enemy’s enticements to do wrong are relentless.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 6-19-2

© Dr. H 2022

Blind paradox ∙

Blind paradox ∙

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” – John 9:39

John 9:35-41

 35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”

 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

 39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment– to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?”

 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.”

Fanny Crosby was born in 1820 in Brewster, New York. The Father intended for her to experience a somewhat inverted miracle. It is just the opposite of what we would expect. Fanny had been born seeing but became blind. She became ill six weeks after birth. The family doctor was away. Another man, pretending to be a doctor, treated her by prescribing hot mustard poultices to be applied to her eyes. Her illness eventually abated, but the treatment left her blind.

However, her blindness was no limitation. Because she could see what most people are incapable of seeing. Fanny Crosby wrote more than 9,000 hymns, some of which are among the most popular of many denominations.

Her love of poetry began early. Her first verse, written at age 8, echoed her lifelong refusal to feel sorry for herself:

Oh, what a happy soul I am, although I cannot see!

I am resolved that in this world contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t.

To weep and sigh because I’m blind I cannot, and I won’t!

Fanny had an amazing capacity for memorization, and she learned vast quantities of the Scriptures by heart. Fanny memorized several chapters of the Bible each week and could quote the Pentateuch, the Gospels, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and many of the Psalms before she was a teenager. She wrote, “The Holy Book has nurtured my entire life.”

Among her best-known hymns are: “Blessed Assurance,” “To God be the glory,” “Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” “Draw Me Nearer,” “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” “The Bright Forever,” “Savior, More Than Life to Me,” and “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” 

REFLECT & PRAY

When physical sight is lost, spiritual sight can flourish. Other human qualities and senses are often enhanced, including the ability to memorize.

Father when I think of Fanny, I am so greatly encouraged. What a delightful relationship she had with You! And because of her, our hearts can be closer to Yours.

INSIGHT

The story of the man born blind is filled with many ironies and paradoxes. People who think they see actually do not. People who know they cannot see are given the ability to see physically and spiritually. Physical sight is inadequate without spiritual sight. Becoming aware of our inadequate spiritual condition is the first step to improving it.

The religious leaders were blinded by self-interest, wanting their own way and being convinced they were right. They were not aware that they were blind and certainly could not admit it. On the contrary, they thought they could see better than anybody else.

Being in the presence of the light of Truth only increased their blindness. Sometimes too much light can be destructive, like staring into the sun. The blind beggar knew his physical need but soon became aware of his spiritual condition. Because he was open and seeking, he could see physically and spiritually. He soon realized that the most important thing he needed was to “see” the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him.

Jesus did not come into this world bringing judgment. Whenever people are confronted with the Lord Jesus Christ, they at once pass a judgment on themselves. How? When a spectator is in the presence of a great work of art, such as a Rembrandt painting, they either recognize and appreciate its sublime beauty or criticize it. When such a critic finds the Rembrandt lacking, the viewer is not judging the art, which is recognized as an excellent masterpiece. Instead, the art judges them and reveals their inadequacy, lack of understanding, and art appreciation.

John 3:17-19

 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

“Whenever people are confronted with Jesus, they at once pass a judgment on themselves. If they see in Jesus nothing to desire, nothing to admire, nothing to love, then they have condemned themselves. If they see in Jesus something to wonder at, something to respond to, something to reach out to, then they are on the way to God.”

“Those who are conscious of their own blindness, and who long to see better and to know more, are men and women whose eyes can be opened and who can be led more and more deeply into the truth.”

“Those people who think they know it all, those who do not realize that they cannot see, are men and women who are truly blind and beyond hope and help. Only those who realize their own weakness can become strong. Only those who realize their own blindness can learn to see. Only those who realize their own sin can be forgiven” (Barclay).

Human sight is limited to the physical world that we see. There is another world, a spiritual world that remains unseen most of the time. This was clearly revealed in the days of Elisha. Elisha had been hunted down and was in very dire circumstances, enemy soldiers surrounded Elisha. But the enemy was itself surrounded by unseen angelic legions who were prepared to act in his defense.

Elisha, the prophet, the seer, could see the unseen without effort. He had no reason to fear. Ordinary people do not have this luxury. Elisha prayed that his servant Gehazi could see what was unseen.

2 Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

And suddenly, the blinders were lifted, and Gehazi was enabled to see those who were always present but previously unseen, the angelic army that the Father had sent to protect them.

Fanny Crosby saw the unseen her whole life. Her delightful and beautiful hymns were motivated and informed by the work of the Spirit of God within. Her spiritual focus, spiritual insight, and informed words and melodies allow us to hear, see, and experience a taste of her vision and sweet relationship with the Father.

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 8-13-2

© Dr. H 2022