To Delight in Hiddenness

Touch of Faith by Simon Dewey

about the painting

about Simon Dewey







In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,
And made Me a polished shaft;
In His quiver He has hidden Me.
- Isaiah 49:2



‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron. 
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.'
- Isaiah 45:2,3 (NKJV)
 


If then you were raised with Christ, 
seek those things which are above, 
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  
 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  
 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 
- Colossians 3:1-3 (NKJV) 


 I tell you the truth, 
unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, 
it remains alone. 
But its death will produce many new kernels—
a plentiful harvest of new lives.
Those who love their life in this world will lose it. 
Those who care nothing for their life in this world 
will keep it for eternity.
^{- John 12:24, 25 (NLT)}

Since the first day of this month, I've been on the lookout for a pattern in the little events of my daily life that might serve as a clue for me to discern the spiritual realities that the Father is revealing.

At first, there was nothing recognizable... but after a while, I became aware of a recurring theme; I began to pay attention.

On July 6 and 7, a group of us from our church spent two days at Jing's beach house in Pontevedra for a mid-year retreat. It was a time of separating ourselves from our usual activities to sit at the feet of Jesus, and to listen to His heart to receive instructions for the second half of this year's journey.

Mayang, Arbee, Arlene, April, Jing, Elena, Sony, and me

There were only six of us who were available for this overnight retreat, but it turned out to be a wonderful and intimate time of being in God's presence. We spent time in worship, and we looked at some important principles about prayer and intercession.

Because I was the teacher for this retreat, the privilege was mine to be the first to benefit from what God wanted to impart to us.

The underlying principle in prayer and intercession is to have the correct mindset. Prayer is not something that we do, it is a relationship that we enter into.

God has chosen to delegate the running of His kingdom and bringing His purposes to pass through us, His sons and daughters. We enter into prayer as kingdom persons, as sons and daughters of the King!

God created everything through His spoken word. And because we are created in the image of God, we too are able to create realities and environments through our spoken word. It's quite awesome.

Understanding this has truly changed the way I look at prayer. God speaks the word, and it comes to pass. And when He chooses to get something done, He passes it on to His people who will in turn speak it into existence.

This is why an intimate and close relationship with God is vital to a life of effective prayer. When we have a close relationship with God, when He knows He can trust us, He reveals throne room secrets and kingdom strategies to us (Psalm 25:14), and we have the authority to bring these to pass, through our words which have creative power.

Thus, it is important to speak life words, and not death words.

One thing stands out to me as I consider this important matter of prayer. Jesus says that when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. (Matthew 6:6)

Oswald Chambers says, "Do not have as your motive the desire to be known as a praying man. Get an inner chamber in which to pray where no one knows you are praying, shut the door, and talk to God in secret."

I can truly understand why this special instruction is given about prayer. It is so easy to congratulate ourselves when we begin to do these spiritual acts, to be motivated by the praises of men, to want to be acknowledged. In anything we do, be it spiritual or secular, if such a distinction can be made, there is always that temptation to assume an air of self-importance, or to have self-fulfillment as a subtle goal.

And I see why humility and effective prayer always go together... because pride will always try to get in the way.

Another thing. While I have been teaching on prayer, I must readily admit that it has been a personal struggle for me - more so these days than ever before. Of course I understand why this is so. Satan knows how important prayer and intercession are to the life of God's people, and the enemy devises traps and schemes to distract and to ensnare.

Still I am amazed at how clearly God has spoken to me these past four weeks. 

Stay hidden. That was His word for me this month. 

Today as another month comes to an end, the name for it, To Delight in Hiddenness, resonates in my heart - not in an obtrusive or demanding way, but in a quiet, unassuming manner.

There is a yes within me as I hear this word.

Hiddenness is not the way of the world, it is the way of the cross.  It is having the heart of a servant, one that is not quick to claim credit for one's contribution or bright ideas.

Catherine Doherty writes these beautiful words: Let us always wish to remain hidden in one way or another. For ours is the apostolate of the alleyways, of the lonely places of the world.”

Hiddenness and humility walk hand in hand.

 How refreshing the waters that flow from a person's humble heart!

And sometimes God will use a difficult relationship to teach humility. In these recent months, I've had a hard time with someone who is so needy, always needing affirmation, always needing to feel important. While not openly expressed, I can sense the self-pity, the self-focus, the subtle pride as a result of unresolved pain and years of unfulfilled needs. My natural response is to move away from such a relationship. The friendship feels more like a duty than a delight. But I want to impart grace... to sow seeds of kindness... yes, to humble myself ... and be an agent of healing in this person's life ....

I have my own version of unhealed emotional wounds... and blind spots. God help me to be hidden in You, and see others through Your eyes...

The Touch by Connie Baten

photo source

Last week, during our Bible study with Lyndon at my sister in law Sue's, we looked at the story of the woman who had an issue of blood. The story is found in Mark 5:24-34.

And a huge crowd was following Him and pressing upon Him. And a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years and suffered much under many physicians and spent everything beyond her means and was not helped but rather became worse: having heard about Y'shua, as she came from behind the crowd touched the fringe of His prayer shawl; for she was saying "If I could just touch His prayer shawl I shall be saved." And immediately the flow of her blood dried and she knew that her body was healed from the plague. 

And immediately Y'shua perceived in Himself that the power left Him. Turning in the crowd He was saying, "Who touched My prayer shawl?" And His disciples were saying to Him, "You see the crowd pressing around You and You sau, 'Who touched Me?'" And He was looking around to see the one who did this. 

And the woman, who was afraid and trembling, since she knew what happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him all the truth. And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you" you must continually go in peace. You are cured from your affliction."

This is one of my all time favorite passages among the miraculous healing stories of Jesus. Many years ago, I sensed that God was giving me this passage as an assurance that the physical healing I was seeking for was on God's timetable, and that it was just a matter of time before my request was granted.

The painting by Simon Dewey shown at the beginning of this post is the wallpaper in my laptop, a constant reminder of God's promises.

Each time this story is mentioned in a Bible study, or a sermon given in church, for whatever reason I encounter this account, there is a surge of faith in my heart. I know God is calling me to attention.

Again, it is a story of staying hidden... being inconspicuous.  The poor woman had every reason to stay out of sight. Because she was hemorrhaging, she was considered unclean. In fact, if she was caught touching Jesus, she would be in great trouble with the religious authorities, for her mere touch on a rabbi or priest would result in contamination.

But her desperation drove her to do what was not allowed. She sought to do it quietly, without anyone taking notice.

Personally, I hate crowds. They have a claustrophobic effect on me. Nevertheless, necessity has taught me to get over this feeling. I've known what it is to be cheek to cheek with other women on the trains of Metro Manila, and stand with someone's hair blowing in my face, my purse literally plastered against my chest. On busy mornings, there is not an inch of space left between passengers.  Fortunately, we have "Women Only" cars in our metro rail transit, and Filipino women are generally hygienic and sweet smelling.

In the process of getting on and off the trains, there will be jostling, and pushing, and it doesn't make sense to ask, "Who touched me?"

It is easy to remain hidden and unnoticed in such a setting.

Which is probably what this woman in the story wanted to happen. She could get her healing and then quietly fade out... disappear into the crowd.

I admire this woman for her quiet and dignified desperation. She pursues her own healing and doesn't make a big issue out of it. She doesn't seek to draw attention to herself, she doesn't parade her predicament before others in self-pity.

I also admire her for her faith. Never mind that she is forced to go down on her hands and feet, getting her garments dusty and soiled. But what else is there to hold on to? Already a social outcast, she is well aware of her shameful condition. She's got nothing else to lose, really.

But what really touches me is her kind consideration of Jesus. She would not physically touch Him, so as not to render Him unclean... she would only touch the hem of His tallit.

So she touches Jesus, and a spirit to spirit connection is established. He will not let her get away so easily. Such faith needs to be acknowledged, and rewarded.

Jesus doesn't humiliate her. Rather, He honors her... and uses a term of endearment to address her: Daughter.

Such a tender moment. I can't help the tears. This story is for me... I have reached out, many times... but once again I am reminded to hold on...

To keep believing...

To wait in hope.

There is a time to stay hidden... but there is also a time to come out in the open... when light shines, when faith is rewarded, and the waiting comes to an end.



As July ends, I thank God for the past four weeks of peace and quiet that I have enjoyed with my family and friends:

Celebrating Shabbat on Fridays...

going out with my grandson Forerunner on a rainy day... hugging my younger grandson many times during the day...

enjoying Chosen One's cooking...

Granola bars by Chosen One

... rejoicing with God-given for her job promotion... tending to my garden...

a cup of coffee with Miriam at Starbucks... ministry team building on Tuesday nights... 

looking forward to lunch each week with the women at church to study the book of Daniel...

our Thursday lunch devotional group, at Elena's garden

Bible study Thursday evenings at Sue's...

interceding on Saturday mornings for our nation and for Israel... looking forward to Sunday mornings to worship and to listen to good preaching... Sunday lunch with the whole family...

spending time in God's presence just as dawn is breaking... daily lifting up my family, my loved ones, my nation, before Heaven's throne of grace...

Nothing really spectacular, yet I know something eternally significant is taking place.

To delight in hiddenness...

Rock flowers cephalophyllum tricolorum in the early spring
found growing in Karoo semi-desert, eastern Cape Town, South Africa
Photo by Rev. Thomas Scarborough

photo source

This evening we had a special dinner to celebrate our newly renovated Family Foundations International (Philippines) office. We got rid of all the clutter, and had new cabinets installed. After all the carpentry was done came a fresh coat of paint, in such yummy colors - pistachio green and light taupe... and the result is a brand new look. The sense of newness gives us a feeling of readiness to venture out into new territories. It's time to plant new seeds, and prepare ourselves for the harvest.

The past weeks have really been good ones.

Praying in secret...

Putting on the cloak of humility...

Asking God to love the unlovable through me...

Pursuing His heart in a quiet way...

Planting seeds of kindness...

Delighting in hiddenness...


Goodbye, July! It has been a lovely month, indeed.

In quietness and confidence shall be your strength...

- Isaiah 30:15