Psalm 71:7

‘I am a wonder unto many but though art my strong refuge’.

DAILY READING   -Acts 4:23-37; Deuteronomy 21-22; Job 14

Oak trees are known to be massive. They can grow to 100 feet in height. Yet, the key to the oak’s imposing stature is what lies beneath the soil out of view – its root system. Its roots are the source from which the visible tree’s greatness springs. And the oak’s root system is just as impressive as its visible features. The Oak’s taproot can reach 60 feet deep, to search for groundwater. Some of its roots extend out more than twice the drip line. The oak tree’s extensive root system anchors it against storm conditions and allows it to absorb water and nutrients from the soil.  Another tree also that owes its greatness to its roots is the sequoia tree. It is one of the world’s largest and most enduring trees. It can grow to 300 feet in height, weigh over 2.5 million pounds, and live for about 3,000 years. However this majestic tree owes its towering height and astonishing weight to its root system. It’s longevity is also due to its twelve to fourteen-foot-deep matting of roots, spreading over as much as an acre of earth. such complex root system keeps these tree firmly grounded and stable.

This can be likened to what occurs in our walk with God. Before attaining great heights there are seasons of preparation when we develop deep roots in God A hidden season of spiritual preparation must precede a period of visibility or outward  prominence.  And the deeper our spiritual roots, the more we can be prepared to attain great heights.

Through the life of David for instance, we can see how God first prepared him in the hidden season before taking him to greatness.  It was in the bush, in a time of prayerful devotion, a season of serving unseen and unknown, that God prepared David for the throne. In this place God expanded his root system.

When David defeated Goliath he became a wonder to his world. Men hailed him and the women sang his praises. Many thought he was an overnight success, but nobody saw the lonely years in the shepherd’s fields where he fought the bears and lions in secret and learned to trust God and make God his strong refuge.

It is the same way God prepares us. Some of the things you are passing through now is God training you. Before you ascend the throne God has for you, you must first pass through processes that  prepare you  to trust God and become totally dependent on Him. Preparation is the mother of manifestation. This season of preparation, is a hidden season of life, where it may seem you are alone fighting the bears and the lions. But God is using the things you are passing through to develop your spiritual muscles, and an unshakeable faith in Him.

They say an exclamation mark is only a question mark straightened out. Men may exclaim and wonder at you when you finally ascend the throne, but then they didn’t see the hidden places of preparation where God trained you.

And most of this training is done in the place of prayer. Every endeavor that will succeed must be established in the spirit through a hidden season of  prayer, before it can manifest physically. The reason why endeavors fail is because people try to do things only in the physical without considering the importance of the spiritual. So like a house built without foundation at the first gust of wind everything comes tumbling. Things are first established spiritually before they can manifest in the physical realm. A hidden season of spiritual establishment and preparation is crucial to our outward manifestation, just as the root is crucial to the tee’s outward growth.  That is God’s order of things. Therefore lets learn to release ourselves to God to train and prepare us as He deems fit. Our concern should be ensuring we are in His perfect will and plan at all times. For we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God.  And if we faint not, in due season we shall surely reap.

PRAYER: Lord,I submit myself, my plans and everything about my life to your perfect will. Lord  have your way in my life, and  please  grant  me the grace to always submit to you, so as to  be prepared when Your foreordained season for me comes, in Jesus Name.

quote

Everything that ultimately  has a glorious ending usually has a humble beginning.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]