Wednesday February 9, 2022

Today is Wednesday, February 9 and this week we are exploring what the Bible says about going deeper with God.

As I begin this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind. I breathe slowly and deeply, and center myself upon the presence of God.

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord, I want to go deeper with you. Break new ground in my heart and enable me to experience the depths of your loving presence. Enable me to dig down further spiritually and discover untraveled paths of christian maturity through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

I praise God for his wisdom and power with the words of Daniel’s Prayer in Daniel 2.

Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:20-22

Pause and Pray

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he proclaims that Jesus Christ is the true power and wisdom of God. He explains that God’s Holy Spirit imparts a deeper wisdom than any human speculation can attain. A mature wisdom only those taught by the Spirit can understand. God’s plan for salvation, the redemption of humanity through Jesus Christ will be fully manifested. For believers who desire to go deeper with God and grow in holiness it is the Holy Spirit who is the teacher. I may search for knowledge, but it is the Spirit who searches me and reveals the deep things of God to me.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Sanctifying grace is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that changes me so that my life is increasingly conformed to the mind of Christ. John Wesley, the eighteenth century founder of the Methodist movement, called this lifelong process sanctification or becoming “perfected in love.” It is growth in holiness of heart and life that bear the marks of Christian maturity. This is not my work, it is the work of the Spirit in me. I can merely cooperate with the Spirit’s activity. Paul speaks a message of God’s wisdom among the mature in Corinth. I consider my own journey toward Christian maturity and how far I have yet to travel. God has prepared the revelation of deep and hidden things that will be explained to me by his Spirit. God’s wisdom is a mystery that has been hidden since time began. God’s plan of salvation for humanity – my redemption through the cross of Jesus.

Ask: How might the Holy Spirit desire to lead me deeper into Christian maturity? What are the deep things of God hidden to the world that God chooses to reveal to me?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, lead me on the path toward Christian maturity as undeserving as I am. Speak a message of wisdom and reveal the hidden mysteries that you destined for believers before time began. My human mind is unable to conceive the things you have prepared. Reveal what I need to know through the power of your Holy Spirit. Search me, know me and guide me deeper in my journey toward holiness. I read the words from First Corinthians again and listen for the message you have for me.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I seek to grow in my reading of scripture, aware that God uses his word to impart wisdom and knowledge to me. I pay close attention to what I am reading and when an image, word or phrase resonates with my soul, I say it out loud or write it down. I keep in mind that God may speak to me about this later in the day. So, I take the word with me and ruminate on it. I consider how the Holy Spirit searches all things, including me. Search me, Lord. The wisdom of the deep things of God cannot be learned through the things of this world, but are imparted to me through the Spirit’s revelation. I consider which words apply more to me today, words like hidden and mystery or words like conceive and reveal.

Pause and Pray

Come, Holy Spirit, I invite you to search the deepest recesses of my heart and mind. Reveal what you choose to share with me today and teach me how to open myself more and more to your work in me. Enable me to cooperate with the ongoing activity of sanctifying grace in my life and help me to grasp the hidden mystery of the wisdom of the cross for the world and for me. Amen.

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. Job 11:7-9

As I leave this time of prayer I declare the deep mystery of the glory of the cross and proclaim a crucified and risen Lord to a disbelieving world.

Amen.