Devo Week 7 - Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.10:16
Hidden Treasure - In His Joy
Do you know that you are God’s treasure, and He comes searching for you? If not, it’s time you do. This is what makes Christianity different from any other religion. E. Stanley Jones said it this way: “Religion is man’s search upward for God, and the Gospel is God’s search downward for man.” Please grasp this: we don’t find God, He finds us. If our enemy can convince you otherwise, then you’re already defeated spiritually, striving throughout life in your own strength.
WHO IS FOR US
A key to being an overcomer spiritually is knowing that God first loved us and has come searching for us. (Rom. 3:11) That alone should set you free, cause you to let go, relax, and rest.
We experienced this truth at a whole other level as “sent ones” by the Holy Spirit to live with the Akha. We not only began seeing them with God’s eyes but feeling His divine love for them. They became ‘treasures’ to us. They could feel that, too. As we grew in their language, in relationships and in life together, we discovered much ‘treasure’ in their lives, stories and traditions. In time, they opened their hearts to us, sharing their needs, pain, and sufferings. They explained their view of life and why they do what they do. At celebrations, they told us the meaning behind certain traditions. They gave us keys of understanding into their world, entrusting us with their ‘treasures’ — those things that made them uniquely Akha.
WHO IS AGAINST US
The devil does not treat people as treasures. Rather, he wants us to believe we’re worthless. Unlovable, and must earn our approval from God. He seeks to dominate, control, destroy and devour us. (I Pet. 5:8) Just as his demons were the first to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah (Mark 1:23-24), they are also aware of Christ in us and manifest themselves in various ways against us. He uses whatever he can – people and circumstances -- to stop the flow of God’s blessings to us and through us to others.
While people were pressuring us to help the Akha throw out their past and turn to the modern world, we felt the Lord leading us to affirm their identity as a people, to search for Him in their roots. Many described the Akha as heathens and full of darkness, but there were treasures to be found among them. His presence and residual witness began shining through.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Father, fill us with Your Spirit, and after having done everything, to stand for You! Lord, expose the works of the enemy. Help us not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes. Bless us to discern our circumstances. Pour Your love into our hearts and let Your love be the foundation of our spiritual life, we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.