My task of the moment was to apply some oil to our new wooden cutting board.  As I applied the oil to the board, the lessons were revealed.  First, the oil brought forth the beauty in the wood that was hidden only moments before.  The light brown surface was transformed into swirls of different rich browns and reds.  Second, what was unseen and only hinted at was now completely revealed with surprising clarity.   Instead of the dull, flat tan of the wood there was vivid swirls and grain patterns.  Thirdly, there was an easy to see difference between what wood was light and which was dark - discernment.  The lines between light and dark were clear and there was no halfway.  Lastly, the Lord showed me that the oil made the wood impervious to water, stains, and any oils coming from items cut up on the board.     

 

1.  The Holy Spirit brings great beauty to us.  There is a beautiful glow about people who are overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  Often I know when people are truely engaged with the Lord during worship times because of the beauty of the Holy Spirit resting upon them. 

 

2.  The Holy Spirit brings clarity to life.  If you are seeking clarity of purpose in your life, then seek for more of the Holy Spirit.  The Lord reveals His purposes and plans for His people through the Holy Spirit. 

 

3.  Discernment between good and evil.  Sometimes it is very hard to see the difference in the grey areas, or at least what we perceive as grey.  Even some things which seem good may not be what the Lord's intentions are for us, and so would not be good (and may even bring hurtful and painful results).  The Holy Spirit also brings clarity in this type of discernment between what is light and dark.  The Holy Spirit reveals the true heart and nature.

 

4.  Imperviousness is what the Holy Spirit brings.  When the Holy Spirit is full in us then our eyes are on the Lord.  When God at the center and we are walking in His plans and purposes, guided by the Holy Spirit, then the Lord's covering is on us.  The stain of sin can't penetrate in through the barrier of the Holy Spirit.  Our faith does not get thinned and watered down (doubtful faith) but the Holy Spirit brings forth hope and faith in the Lord.  

 

 

1. Allow the Holy Spirit to work into your life.  Spend time with the Lord in prayer time, worship time, reading (and chewing) His Word.  Listen to worship music even when doing other tasks.  Sing to softly to yourself and pray even in the midst of a busy day while shopping, driving, or whatever.

 

2.  Receive soaking ministry either during a regular ministry time or even just putting on a CD and sitting or lying down.  Don't pray, sing, or speak.  Just be quiet and let the Holy Spirit minister to you.  Take the time to receive from the Lord.

 

3.  Allow the Holy Spirit access to the secret hidden places of your heart.  Find your sharp, dry edges and let the Holy Spirit's oil be applied to those places as well.

 

4.  Where there are cracks and wounds in our life, allow the Holy Spirit to apply balm there.  Receive His healing for those places.  Allow the oil of the Holy Spirit to penetrate and lift off the dirt, grime, and the effects of your sin or other's sin from your life. 

 

 

What is your Holy Discontent? What event or events in your life lit your passion for the Lord and His work on fire?  For me, it was my sis's cancer and our losing her to the illness.  That event drove me to seek the Lord with all my heart and ask him how He wanted me to worship Him.  As I look deep, that sad event was a spark or catalyst.  After that, I deeply wanted to see the Lord heal cancer to spare families the grief of losing a loved one in that way.  I wanted to do whatever I could to bring healing and restoration to the sick.  To restore their hope and future to them.  I remember waking up from a dream while vacationing with the family in Williamsburg, VA.  Right before I woke up, I heard the Lord ask me, "What spiritual gift would you desire the most?"  I told the Lord, that's easy, the gift of healing.  I deeply desired to share the reality of the Lord, from my Toronto experience (read my testimony page) and to pray for the Lord to bring healing to the sick.  And I was (and am) willing to give my self to the Lord in anyway He wants, to see people healed, drawn to the Lord, and for the Lord receive all the glory and praise.  

 

  So, once this discontent sets in, what would you be willing to do to bring a solution about?  In a dangerous turn of event, some take it in their own hands or worse, seek occult solutions.  The difference would be surrendering our will and purpose to the Lord and knowing the differences between holy (pure and passionate but by human impulse) discontent and  Holy (pure and passionate, brought about by the Lord and in agreement with His purposes and plans) Discontent.  One is from God, the other is of man or worse.  God's plan brings goodness, life, health, and wholeness.  The plans of man and the deceiver, however, bring strife, sickness, hate, and death.

 

Holy Spirit discernment and checking our passion against the Word is vital in determining what is Holy (of the Lord) and what is of man.    

  

* For more on the difference between good and 'good' (of the Lord), read Rick Joyner's "There Were Two Trees in the Garden".