Isaiah 49; 2   
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft, in His quiver, hath He hid me.

DAILY READING • Acts 20:1-16; Judges 13; Job 41 

They call it the silent years. In cognitive psychology they found that for everyone who ever became great, there were a certain number of silent or hidden years that preceded their greatness.  A professor of cognitive psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, did a research on the most talented people in history. Part of the research examined 76 successful composers such as Mozart and Beethoven; analyzing 500 musical masterworks, produced by them between the years of 1685 to 1900. It was amazing to discover that virtually all of them produced their masterpiece after a decade of obscurity. Only 3 exceptions were found written after eight to nine years of a composer’s career. Even a genius like Mozart had to work for at least ten years before he produced something that became popular. This obscure period of long preparatory hard work before recognition has become known as “ten years of silence.” In follow up study of 131 famous painters such as Leonardo da Vinci and  Picasso; along with 66  poets, the same pattern was found. Though there were a few who produced notable works in less than ten years, none was found who managed it in less than five years. 55 out of the 66 poets needed ten years or more to produce significant works. 

The pattern of greatness this researchers are finding out is already set forth in the scriptures. There must be a hidden season of preparation before there can be a manifestation. Though the ten year rule, is not strictly followed in scriptures, we however find that there must always be a season of training before a presentation. These are hidden years, when God hides you as a quiver in His shaft and polishes you. Isaiah 49:2 says ‘He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft, in His quiver, hath He hid me.’ Though God calls us from the womb, but before we can access the promise we must pass through the process. And it is only when we have been trained that we are presented to our world. David was in the bushes tending sheep for years before the time of his manifestation. And even when David had already been anointed to be the next king of Israel; Saul was allowed to occupy the throne until David was fully trained. John the Baptist was in the wilderness for years before his manifestation to Israel. Luke 1:80 says ‘And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.’

By age 12, Jesus was already conscious of His assignment. He was teaching the doctors of the law in the temple, and knew He should be about the Father’s business. But God still waited another 18 years until He was 30, before announcing Him to the world. Moses realizing God’s call on him to be a deliverer, at age 40 rebelled against Pharoah. But it took another 40 years of training in the backside of the desert before God empowered him to go forth and deliver His people. 

Everyone called by God must be processed. And it doesn’t matter how long the training, until you are ready you will not be released. God did not save us to leave us as He found us. He saved us to change us and transform us into the image of His Son. 

Galatians 4:4  says “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”. The fullness of time is when God sends us forth, but it must first be preceded by the process of time when we are trained. In this age and in this era God is preparing His church for a mighty end-time move. God is training His army, He is raising His generals. The whole earth is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God. We must therefore be ready. Isaiah 2:2 says ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of The Lord’s House shall be established in the top of the mountain , and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.’ God has an agenda to uplift the end-time church to a place of prominence and dominion. It shall be as a city set on a hill that cannot be hid. To be partakers of this endtime uplifting we must begin to prepare in the place of prayer and consecration, because Jesus is coming for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. God is placing a higher call on His people, and we must begin to answer that call. God is calling us to begin to  pursue His purpose and plans. To follow vision and not ambition. 

Perhaps you have been in the hidden season, seeking the face of God in intimate fellowship, and serving Him with all  your heart; and yet it seems you have remained in obscurity, unknown and unrecognized. Understand that your time of showing  forth is coming. Many who will be used mightily by God in this end-time are still in the hidden place of training. Just be faithful to continue to obey the Word of God and The Spirit of God. When you are due, you will not be denied. As you continue in the place of obedience soon it will be your turn for manifestation, because there is nothing hidden which shall not be made manifest.[Mark 4:22]

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be rightly positioned to be a part of the mighty army you are raising in this end-time. May I never miss my place in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE: 

When you are living and walking in the supernatural everything natural becomes subservient to you, as long as you can ‘see it’, it is changeable. – WORDBITE 222.    

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK METAMORPHOSIS]