How can it be that holy God would place his treasure in hands made of flesh that are going to mar its perfection? God is so generous. He is eager to communicate with his beloved children. I receive words, pictures—metaphors for greater truths—because he has designed me to receive them. A prayer begins, head bowed or not, eyes closed or not, I often receive before the asking. I am undone. I am not worthy. How do I respond to this? I immediately hear two words, with gratitude.
I know anything given to me is for the benefit of others. I have long been receiving in intercession for our ministry, Hope Preserved. But as my desire has increased to be faithful to him, I have been releasing what I receive as he directs in my writing. I admit that I’m somewhat fearful. It requires being completely vulnerable to let others see inside of me. And when my flesh taints the releasing, I have to trust his grace covers it all.
I started writing this blog after two years of inactivity. Oh, I was always writing in my journal, but I had let the blog go, believing there was no one reading anyway. This time I had clear direction from the Lord that he wanted me to write for him, and so Little Potted Plant was rebirthed. I sent out emails to folks who had subscribed in the past who I thought might be interested. Mark sent out an email highlighting a post he particularly thought would help those who come to us for ministry. I had very little response.
Discouraged, I went for a walk and talked to the Lord about it. He showed me I was like a beggar with a little tin cup going around to friends, asking them to fill my cup by subscribing to my blog. He asked, Why are you looking elsewhere for your cup to be filled when I am filling it to overflowing with my treasure? And then the question that hit home, Didn’t you say you would write for just the one? “Yes, Lord, I did, and I will.” What if the one is me? I have tears in my eyes as I write this. He was referring to “Audience of One,” a previous post, where he brought that truth home to me.
Recently I met with a precious family member to deliver prophetic pictures and words I had received from the Lord. It was difficult and scary and beautiful and profound all at the same time. It may be my natural wiring to receive these things from the Lord, but it’s not easy for me to release them, especially face to face. Yet in prayer beforehand, the Scripture was given to me from Hebrews 10:38: But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus is illustrating the deposit of gifting that is put in each one of us. The one who received two talents received just as much praise as the one who received five because they invested it and got a return on their money. The one who was afraid to do anything with his one talent was harshly judged. We are all given this “treasure,” this gifting that is uniquely fitted for each of us, the way that God has designed us.
We have seasons where we are being filled, but at some point in time, the Lord asks us to release what he has given us. What that looks like is different for all of us. We must accept that we won’t do it perfectly, and that’s okay. But when we also realize that we have the fullness of God in the Holy Spirit backing us, we can do it. And when we do, we find that we are the ones most blessed. It is worth it. He is faithful!
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7