the things that you have wanted hidden will be washed away…

I belong to Jesus, but my life journey has taken me to dark and confusing places, away from the security of fellowship at times.  My pain, shame and anger has caused me to hide from God and His people. But I am reminded of Gods love, faithfulness and grace, in this prophesy, spoken at my baptism 35 years ago by a complete stranger. It has been a promise that I have held onto over the years in and out of fellowship.  I want to share it with you and I hope the prophesy resonates with you too

“Just as the flower is closed when it is raining and petals are closed around the flower so you have been in your life, you have been closed in so people can not see the real you, they have not seen the real self. The things that you have hidden, the things that you have wanted hidden will be washed away and you will know a cleanliness that you have not known and a purity that you have not known.

And as that flower opens itself up to the warmth of the rays of the sun so my daughter as you have been obedient to me and take this step and you open yourself up to me. I will draw close to you. And you will know me as you walk daily with me. As you open yourself up to me I will reveal myself to you in the coming days. And others will see you and they won’t see the old person but they will see the new person who will be a reflection of myself because the beauty of Jesus will be seen in you, says the Lord”.

I am so much older and wiser than I was over 35 years ago the prophesy, was not just about that moment when I got baptised, although it was pretty miraculous at the time and I felt physically and spiritually clean! The words had much deeper meaning and significance in the fullness of time.  As I look back through the good and bad through the light and dark the promise that God would transform me on the inside has happened, not in the way I expected or a quick fix miracle but a process of developing wisdom and insight through the struggles and anguish as well times of celebration.

In your time, you make all things beautiful. Lord please show me every day as your teaching me your way that you do just what you say, in your time.

My prayer for today is; Dear God, teach me by the power of your Holy Spirit the ways I can demonstrate joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (the fruits of the Spirit) and bring me into relationship with You that will inspire and sustain me and Lord give me the confidence to share my experience of You with others. Thank you dear Lord.