Our Spiritual journey

I love the way that the Word spoken to us is a living Word, and just as we do not say 'yes' and 'no' at the same time - neither does God through that Word as the Holy Spirit teaches us, it depends where we are in our spiritual growth.  It is an on-going journey and I love the way I am being changed through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, even though I go through many trials.

1 Corinthian ch. 2 vs. 11 and 12 read:-
'For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him?  So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.' 

The following is something which I felt to write many years ago.  They were words that just dropped into my head as if it was a voice speaking to me after I became born again of God's Spirit.  Whether it will speak to anyone else I do not know, but I feel to share it on this post, although I may have already shared it on my blog some time previously.

Renewal

Do not be tainted by a love that is not God's. Don't let innocence be spoiled by a wisdom that is earthly. Always remain as a child in your own wisdom so that the greatness of God's words can be allowed to enter into the ears of your heart, so that you may grow up into Him and remember no more the foolishness of this present world.  For there is a part of you which can not understand His Words and it would seek to rob you of His truth. It is the mind of your first father, Adam, a fleshly mind. The Lord speaks and your heart receives, but your mind tries to intervene and to reason with logic.  Oppose that which is at enmity with God and receive into your heart only that which is pleasing to Him, His Words, which are Spirit and life.


MIRROR IMMAGE

Lord may we learn from creation
may we look to the vast blue sea
to the mountains, the fields and the valleys
to know how we ought to be

May we look to the gentle dolphin
as he tries to befriend mankind
and follow this creature's example
leaving killing and hatred behind

May we look to the towering mountains
holding fast against tempest and rain
as we struggle with sorrow and tragedy
finding strength amidst suffering and pain

As we look to the fields and the harvest
all golden and bursting with grain
may we learn how to share with each other
may our giving replace all our gain

Then, as in the river's reflection
of the blue of the Heavens above
so too we will mirror the image
of God's totally unselfish love


These are another two poems that I have written at two separate times during my on going walk with the Lord.
The first is one that I wrote at a very early stage when I was being fed the 'milk' of the Word, it is called  'Messiah':-

MESSIAH

I watch in anguish every day
as killing, torture, hatred reign
in horror turn my eyes away,
hoping somehow to reduce the pain
I cry, despair and sorrow gripping me
Then Jesus comes, saying 'Child - I see'
and the burden is removed from me

I stumble blindly down life's road
through shifting sand and mists of sin
bent low by fortune's heavy load
deep loneliness and fear within
I scream, held tightly by frustration's hand
Then Jesus comes, saying 'Child - I understand'
and shows to me a promised land

I reach towards this man of love
this gentle lifter of my head
empowered by Spirit from above
to wake from sleep the living dead
I breathe, as new life stirs within my soul
Then Jesus comes, saying 'Child - I make you whole'
and give you back what Satan stole'

I listen - now familiar sound
a still small voice dispels the gloom
my step a dance upon the ground
as I arise from earthen tomb
I praise -  my song 'Emmanuel' 
the Christ has come saying 'All is well
for I have conquered death and Hell'

The second poem I would like to share in this post is one that I wrote regarding Jesus' sacrifice. I called it 'Forever grateful Father'

FOREVER GRATEFUL FATHER

Forever grateful Father that You gave Your precious Son
Who, knowing His awesome destiny said
'Not my will, but Your will be done'
Yet it pleased You to bruise Him Father
so that I might have peace and be healed
for through this one act of sacrifice
was Your gift of salvation revealed

Forever remembering Jesus
that You hung upon that tree
taking the pain and punishment
that was meant for a sinner like me
Yet You chose not to open Your mouth Lord
and call on the Heavenly host
to come to Your aid on that lonely day
No.... You suffered and gave up the ghost

Forever Yours Holy Spirit
while You teach me and make all things clear
chastising me when I go astray
and wiping away each tear
Oh Father I love and respect You
and Jesus I want to obey
So guide me great Spirit and keep me
'Til my Lord returns for me one day

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift   
2 Corinthians  ch. 8 v.15

Perseverance and prayer

A few nights ago I lay in bed thinking quite negatively about growths that have been in my body for many years, and wondering if the Lord is going to heal me.  They first started to appear after I asked Him to teach me about sickness and healing, because I did not understand why I had some prayers answered and yet not others. Many strange, supernatural things have happened in my life, including a miraculous healing in my body since I have been born again of God's Spirit.  I have even being transported from one road to another in my car instantly (which no one would have believed if another person had not been in the car with me), so I know absolutely that what  is not possible with man is possible with God.   

After I asked the Lord to teach me about sickness and healing it was pointed out to me through scripture not to go to the world for help, but to trust the Lord to heal me.  I have since been through many trials and have been strengthened many times through scripture spoken to me in my times of weakness, even experiencing some healings, but am still going through trials in my physical body.

 

Jesus is the Word of God and when I asked the Lord to teach me about sickness and healing He brought to my attention Psalm 103 which speaks about all the benefits in the Lord including verse 3 which states that He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. This shows me that doubt within the carnal mind is the only thing that can prevent my healing from coming to pass.

 

Another scripture that came to my mind during the night was  2 Corinthians ch. 10 v.5 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'  This is a very hard thing to do as Satan's questioning in the carnal mind can be a strong enemy and cause us to question God's Word to us just as it did to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The simplest of experiences can be a good example of how what is in the mind can veer us away from doing something.  One of these is that I am trying to stay on a bit of a diet and yet chocolate biscuits and Mars bars  keep coming into my mind constantly :-)

This is what James ch. 1 v.6 says about 'doubt'

'But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind'

 

 Total belief in that Word  has the power to bring into existence that which does not exist, WHEN we believe, including physical healing. For Mark 11 v.23 says:- 'For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.' 

Although I have had many things come upon my body, and am still going through trials, I see that the scriptures say that we glory in tribulations because they teach us patience, and regarding trials James ch. 1 vs. 2, 3 and 4 state:-  'Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.' 

 

So I feel that I have to persevere in my trials and gradually come to erase all of Satan's questioning from my carnal mind to be able to have 'faith' in God's Word to me. 

Some years ago I bought a picture in a church table top sale, it was of a young girl who was sat on a chair, outside a shed, blowing bubbles. Some time later I came across an ornament. It has a  picture of the same girl, in what appeared to be an open book, with a poem attached to it.

I have these items in my workroom and am being spoken to by the Lord through them once again.  The Lord has seen my weakness and is reminding me once again that all things are possible with Him and is encouraging me to have faith to know that He will do what He has promised. Even the meaning of the young girl's name Amy (dearly loved) is reminding me that we are dearly loved by the Lord.  It is a beautiful time of strengthening me against the spiritual enemy.

 

 

 

 

On the left side of the book is a poem that speaks about having 'faith', it is called 'Dreams', and as I read this once more that morning I felt it was the Lord encouraging me once again through it to have faith in Him.



In the large picture of the young girl there is the name 'Amy' , scratched into the door behind her, that I could barely see. I am reminded that Jesus is the 'door to the sheepfold' and in John ch. 10 vs. 9 and 10 He says:-
'I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.   The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly'

As part of His body we have to stay within Him, ( as the name 'Amy' being scratched in the door was reflecting to me), acting upon that Word spoken to us, in order to be the true church, for 'as a man thinks so he is.' Just as Jesus prayed constantly to His Father so too we have to constantly pray to God

1 Corinthians ch. 12 vs. 7-11 states:-

'Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.  To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determine

 We are told in Hebrews ch. 13 v. 8 that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.'  and in Revelation ch. 19 v. 13 that He is the Word of God.

I say this prayer to our Father God.

Father I ask in Jesus' name, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will act within Your church, and that any unbelief that doubt brings upon us will be removed and You will increase our faith. Amen and thank You father.

 

What is Joy?

This morning I opened my Bible to where 'praying in the Spirit' was being spoken of, so I prayed in the Spirit regarding what I should write about next.
I have several draft posts which are unfinished which I hope to put up later, but two comments have been left recently on a post I put up several years ago. So I have decided for now to re post this one:-

 

What is 'joy'?

Joy to the natural mind is doing the things that bring pleasure.  I get a lot of pleasure out of nature, and taking photographs.  I love animals and birds and get tremendous pleasure from their presence in my daily life, and I get pleasure from painting, writing

and many other things that I do.

 

  

 

 

Yes, we tend to use the

word 'joy' when we talk about the pleasures of this life, and there is nothing

wrong in that.

 

What of the meaning of 'joy' in God's eyes?

My dictionary tells me that 'joy' means 'excitement or stimulation of pleasurable feeling caused by the acquisition or expectation of good'.  As a christian I know that there is, in God's eyes, an established good and an established evil, and I must learn, through the Holy Spirit's teachings, to discern between the two.

Good and evil

Is it by choice or predestined, that we do good or evil? What is good, what is evil, where is the plumb line? Is my evil somebody else's good, is my good somebody else's evil? To whom somebody else's evil is good, then it is good. To whom somebody else's good is evil then it is evil. To establish a common good or a common evil there must be a plumb line. Without a plumb line there is no such thing as good or evil - only chaos.

Proverb ch.15 v.21 says that, 'Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly',  so where do I find true joy that will not come from folly, and how do I tell the difference?  First of all, in order to experience fully the kind of joy that is mentioned in the Bible, the kind that Nehemiah spoke of as being a strength in Nehemiah ch.8 v.10,  I must have a knowledge of what walking uprightly is in God's eyes.  Just as Nehemiah had given understanding to the people of God concerning what was walking uprightly in God's eyes when the people were under the law, the Holy Spirit will give understanding of what is walking uprightly in God's eyes to we who are not under the law but who are under God's grace.  Otherwise we will be deceived, and have a substitute joy which will be derived from what is good in our own eyes, but maybe not in God's eyes.

In the book of Jeremiah ch.15 v16 Jeremiah says to God 'Thy words were found, and I ate them , and Thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Thy name O Lord God of hosts.'
We see by this account that it is God's words that became a joy, but only after Jeremiah 'ate' them, so God's words acted upon (eaten) become an 'excitement or stimulation of pleasurable feeling caused by the acquisition or expectation of 'good'.  So the christian can be sure that as he or she seeks God's word in their lives, what God speaks to each individual will become a joy and the delight of the heart if that word is acted upon.

I can truly say that when God speaks to or instructs me from His word personally, though I may not always understand it or my carnal mind will advise against it, if I believe it and, when required, act upon it, it brings about good - a good which surpasses all that I could imagine.   In John ch.14 v.15,  Jesus says to those who believe in Him 'If you love me keep my commands .   And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; you know Him, for He dwells with you, and will be in you.'

It is always my choice whether I do what He asks or not, but how can I claim to love Him and not do what He asks?

Not because.........

I love You Lord                                             
not because I must
for 'must' comes out of fear
and Your perfect love casts out fear

I serve You Lord
not for what I can get
for 'get' comes out of greed
and You make me able to be content
with little as well as much

I follow You Lord
not because there is no other path I can take
for You have allowed me to try every path
and I can see.....
that what appears to be a broad path
leads to a confined space
but what appears to be a narrow path
leads out into a broad place

Simon Peter answered Him 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life: and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God.' John ch.6 vs.68,69

Ecclesiastes ch.2 v.26 says that God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to the man who pleases Him. So we need to find out what pleases God in order to experience this God given joy.
Wisdom, knowledge and joy will be given freely to us if our intentions are to seek to please God and walk in His ways, but as His ways and thoughts differ from ours,  Isaiah ch.55 v.8 says   'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord',   we cannot possibly please Him without revelation from the Holy Spirit first on how to do this.  This is why it has to be the Holy Spirit that teaches us, because 1 Corinthians ch.2 v.11 says that 'no man knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God'.  1John ch.2 reads 'but the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you; as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in Him.'

James ch.1 v.2 tells us to 'count it all joy' when we meet various trials.  James goes on to say that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness and to 'let steadfastness have its full effect, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.'  So to the christian these trials are necessary and good.  Walking in the Spirit may not always appear to be a bed of roses but it's fragrance will be every bit as beautiful  and much longer lasting than walking according to the flesh, or carnal mind.  We are encouraged to continue to walk in the Spirit, running the race that is set before us, in Hebrews ch.12 v.2 where we are told to 'look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.'  If we do as we are encouraged here we will never have to endure what Jesus endured but, Glory to God, we will share in the joy that was set before Him.


The necessity of the ' Chief cashier's signature'

One day I found a part of a ten pound note on my bedroom carpet.  I could not think where it came from and was going to throw it in the bin.  My husband said 'I think you can claim a whole ten pound note if you take it to the bank.'  I said 'I don't think so', but phoned the bank and explained what had happened and what my husband had said.  The young man on the phone told me to pick up a form from the bank, fill it in and send it off to the bank of England.  The form asked for details of what had happened to the note.  I put down that I did not have a clue, told them what my husband had said, and sent it off with the part of the ten pound note.  For the price of a stamp it was worth enquiring.  I had a very nice letter back saying that as there was only fifteen percent of the note found, no chief cashier's signature and no promissory clause, they were unable to pay out, which I thought was fair enough.

I think probably the piece of the ten pound note may have come in on my shoe from outside, but the whole incident, including the words contained in the return letter, made me think of how there will be no joy set before those who are outside of the kingdom of God, who having only the part of the note, so to speak, hearing about God but not knowing Jesus.  For without the Chief cashier's signature, the Holy Spirit's presence in their lives, there is no promissory clause, no guarantee of eternal life.  The 'I promise to pay' is on the other part, the part with the Chief cashier's signature on.

There is absolutely nothing wrong in enjoying the things on this Earth that give pleasure, God has given us those things to enjoy, the natural things and things that can be bought with money.
True riches can only be found in Jesus Christ, but that does not mean that we are denied our heart's desire in the things that we love in this life also, it depends which we put first.   However, all the money in the world will never buy us the salvation and eternal life that God's Son has purchased for us.  God help those who don't know this if we don't share the joy of the Gospel of Jesus with them.


Treasure

What good is my gold if I don't have You
what use is my earthly treasure
all it can buy is a dream or two
a moment of worldly pleasure
What use is it if I have jewels and fine clothes
and I cut with a silver knife
if all of these things fall apart and decay
with my soul at the end of this life
No I'd rather have treasure in Heaven
gathered in barns of trust
than to have all the gold on this earth Lord
and my soul to return to the dust
Yes I'd rather have You Lord Jesus
You're worth far more than gold to me
for gold's only good for a lifetime
but You ....... for eternity

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.        Matthew ch.6 vs. 19-21

A time for everything

Sometimes we may feel as if bad times have come upon us, when various circumstances and certain people come into our lives. However, what we do not realize is that what appear to us to be bad times can sometimes, according to the Lord, be good times. We are told that if we love God then all things will work together for good for us. Sometimes things are sent to try us and test us, and even to change us and our way of thinking about people. Just because they do not seem the kind of person we like, or their personality is not what we are familiar with it does not mean that they are not the best kind to be in our lives at a specific time. Ecclesiastes ch. 3 v.1 states that 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens', and I can look back over my life and see that this is very true. People who are very different from what I have been used to have been brought into my life several times, bringing me to face a challenge that will either change me or change that person.
Life is a journey, and it is on-going just as the Israelites journey was on-going through the wilderness towards the promised land.
The following are two poems which metaphorically speak about the trials in life.
The first one is called 'The Garden', and speaks of rejection being turned around to acceptance through seeing something, or someone,  that we did not want in our lives from a different perspective.

 The Garden                            

'How pleasant is our garden' the flowers said one day
while basking in the morning sun then they heard the gardener say

'I think I'll plant an onion to see if it will grow'

and looking round the garden sought a place for it to go.

 

 

 

 

 

'Oh no!' cried out the marigold 'Don't put Onion next to me. 'What about beside the pond or under that old tree?'

 

 

 

 

 

 

'And why then should I suffer?

replied the noble oak. 

'And neither do we want it here!'

the frogs began to croak.

And   so the gardener scratched his head and said 'What shall I do? somewhere within my garden must be a place for you.'

 The onion cried within his heart, the tears began to roll .  He prayed 'Lord, I'm created too, find a place for this poor soul.'

And then the gardener heaved a sigh and said 'The only thing is to put this onion by the fence, with the weeds that choke and sting.'

The onion was so happy, at last was found a place. The gardener went and brought his spade, the onion dried its face. How happy was the little plant once settled in the ground. He spread his roots and raised his head, began to look around. A sudden sound of crying began to reach his ears. 'Oh no, what now.' the onion said. 'Who's shedding all those tears?' But mingled with the crying 'Hip, hip, hooray' was heard. A sigh of hope, and maybe not rejection as he feared.?' 

The sobbing wasn't coming from the marigold or oak, but coming from the nasty weeds, the ones that sting and choke. By now the weeds were withering, the thistles gasped for breath, for the presence of the onion could only mean their death. The flowers now with shouts of glee to the onion did lean and bend, for what was seen as an enemy had now become their friend.   So if in your midst there's an 'onion', who sometimes makes you cry, put him amongst your thistles and weeds. Who knows......? Maybe they'll die.  

This poem could go on and on, for although the Onion is metaphorically portrayed as a person who is rejected because of it's looks according to people's opinion, the Nettle is portrayed as a person with a 'sting' in it.  Yet nettles are a source of food to a butterfly, and the butterfly to me would portray a born again believer, having the ability to 'rise' in Christ.  So 'Nettles' can spiritually portray a person that God can use for correction ( which the 'sting' can metaphorically refer to),  and its' dying can spiritually portray the rejection of a now proud personality of one who was once rejected themselves (as in the onion), thereby killing off that correction by not heeding it.
 As far as calling some plants 'Nasty weeds that sting and choke', that may be what they appear to be to me because they can take over my garden, by growing very quickly, but according to scripture there is purpose in  everything that God has created.

 So too,  we can never judge another believer by the small amount we perceive of them, for we are all parts of the body of Christ and are all being used to build one another up in the Spirit. When we speak the truth in love.  Ephesians ch. 4 v.15b states:-
'we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ'

and 
2 Corinthians ch. 3 v.18 states:-
'And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another..'

 

The second poem   is about  not  judging a situation or a person just by its 'prickly' side but seeing its beautiful and fruitful side also.  

 

The Bramble                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

'Behold I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work, and I have created the waster to destroy' Isaiah ch.4 v.16

Christmas blessings

I just want to share a couple of poems I wrote regarding the Lord and Christmas time.
The first is one I wrote when my husband and myself were living in a house back in Wales some years ago.  We had a little rescue cat that had been found in a stable, and she is mentioned also in this poem.

Christmas day - Late afternoon

It's Christmas day and it's late afternoon
I lie on my couch in my cosy back room
I look through the archway towards the French doors
out into the garden where black ragged claws
of firethorn branches are reaching high
with nail-like thorns into sullen sky
The Christmas tree stands in the darkening room
casting radiance and light into unlit gloom
Messiah is playing on classic CD
as a feeling of timelessness hangs over me
The kitten sleeps - found in a stable they said
was in a bad way - she was almost dead
but why is there here a sense of holiness
when all that I gaze upon speaks of lowliness
There's something else here in this down -to-earth place
there's a message of mercy - a message of grace
The lights, the stable, thorns, arch and Messiah
they all speak of something much greater, much higher
than this one day a year set aside to rejoice
to sing carols, send cards and do things of one's choice
For they suddenly speak not of worldly tradition
but of Son of God rescuing son of sedition

'For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.' John ch. 6 v.38

 The second poem is one that I wrote to put in a little card that I made. 

Wise men came

Come all who are heavy laden
come now and behold your king
come all who are sad and lonely
it's time to rejoice and sing
Come all who are weak and weary
lift up your heads and see
come all who are bound in fetters
this Saviour can set you free
This Jesus Who once was rejected
must now be received by all
for the Father has granted eternal life
to those who will answer His call
He comes to give life in abundance
a bearer of burdens is He
He's been born in a world
of rejection and strife
He's been born to bring pardon
and eternal life

 

May we all be wise and come to the One Who was born into this world to pay the price for our sins.

 

 

 

^' For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.'

John ch. 6 v.40

Who do we believe in

A couple of weeks ago I did not go to the church gathering that I am attending, I did not feel like going and was going through a bit of a trial with my bones, and I began to think  'Maybe I will come out of this church gathering and see if I can find a Pentecostal one nearby.'  I believe the reason I was thinking this was that I have seen a lack of the spiritual gifts operating in the churches, including the gifts of healing and miracles. Very soon after, I had a dream in which these words were spoken to me 'Do not say that you will come out', but not only were these words spoken to me, a picture of the words were in front of my eyes in the dream.  I knew it was speaking about me not coming out of the church at this moment, as God warns us in dreams.
 

Last Saturday I was not only suffering from pain in my bones, as I had done a lot of walking on the Thursday and Friday that week, but I stepped on something in the mat in the en suite in our bedroom that felt like a needle, and I could not walk on that foot.  My carnal mind told me that there was no way that I could go to church the next morning, and yet when I sought the Lord about it He had me open to Psalm 122 twice. This is a Psalm that has always spoken to me about going to a church gathering when I have asked about it, so I prayed to the Lord that if I was meant to go then He would enable me to.

I awoke the next morning with no problem in my foot and feeling well able to go to the church gathering, and wanting to do so.

I noticed on my bedside cabinet as I awoke that my husband had cleaned the bedroom furniture the day before because I was feeling weak.  He had jiggled the lamp and other things that I had there and one of the things that he had moved around was a little picture of a rose and a scripture on it. This was looking straight at me as I awoke.

  This is the picture that I have on my bedside cabinet, it is in a frame on there.  I knew immediately that I was to go to church, it had been enabled through His strength in my weakness, and it was meant to be.

This incident made me realize once again that the Word spoken to us will prove true if we just trust in the Lord, knowing that all things are possible with Him.

Fear and doubt can actually prevent us from trusting in what the Lord is saying, and cause us to trust in what the enemy is putting within our carnal minds. We must not forget that once we are born again and have become a child of God then we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians ch. 2 vs. 14-16 states:-
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.   For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.'

This is absolutely true, and I finish this post with a prayer that I wrote many years ago and which is still my prayer today:-

 

 It broke all the rules

Lord make me like Mary, so quick to believe

when the angel foretold what would be

take doubt from my heart that my mind might perceive
what Your Spirit is able to see

Yes make me like Mary that I might receive

with a heart and a mind that are meek

unlike Zechariah who would not believe

and for months was unable to speak

 

Lord make me like Joseph who thinking it right

would quietly put Mary away

but when visited by an angel one night

straightway at her side he did stay

Yes make me like Joseph who simply obeyed

when instructed that night in a dream

to do what You ask Lord and not be afraid

how to others it might make me seem

 

Lord make me like Jesus - a babe in a womb

awaiting His birth in this world

though knowing one day He'd be sealed in that tomb

was obedient as God's plan unfurled

Yes make me like Jesus - a true child of God

Who came into this world to serve

and was born in a manger, where animals trod

not the palace that He did deserve

 

For God is not ordered by man's plan or choice

and it broke on that day all the rules

when He spoke to a maiden through angel's voice

in spite of religion and wisdom of fools

No God was not ordered by man's plan or choice

when He sent You Lord Jesus to earth

and through riddle and parable echoes His voice

as He brings His great Kingdom to birth.