Dutch Sheets writes such helpful books on prayer and spiritual growth. I was reading 'Roll away your stone' and was struck by two truths I knew, but he put very clearly.
1. When we are born again, made new, we have a new spirit, but an old soul. The new spirit is pure gift. The mind, will, and emotions are BEING renewed - and need our co-operation.
2. Truth that sets us free comes in SEED form, and it needs the soil of our faith and co-operation to grow and produce that freedom.
He explains the strongholds that develop in us over the years, and gives wonderful examples of how truth applied and declared has done it's double work of breaking down the old and building up the new.
I find myself wanting the 'quick fix' - the ministry prayer or prophecy that will break off things in me that need to go... and sometimes that has happened. But more often it is cultivating the soil so the truth seeds can grow and do their cleansing and renewing work.
New truth has been planted in me recently, that has given me an expanding sense (like being pregnant!) that something really good is going to burst forth. It feels like layers are being peeled off, and I feel somewhat vulnerable and unsure...but the new growth has not yet appeared. I am restless, there is an inner ache of longing... constant prayer bubbling up... but I cannot be passive. Jesus said "The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it (yes, doing that) and by persevering produce a crop."
Lord - enable me to persevere in the truth... keep the soil moist - sit in the sunlight of your smile, and delight in what is emerging.
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