The School of the Spirit

 

In the School of the Spirit, accuracy is golden, patience is evergreen. Many a time, we are in a hurry to jump when we receive a clue from the Lord. As we grow in learning, we realize that it is important to move past the excitement of hearing, to checking with the Lord and ask - How high do you want me to jump? Oftentimes, the Lord will give express direction when he sees we are set to obey him to the letter.

 

Let us take a look at 2 Kings 13:18-19

 

And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

 

Had the king asked, how long Prophet? He would have received further guidance to know he needed to do it for as long as possible. As we grow in the Lord, due diligence is required to hear God fully and accurately. What a depth we can attain in God, only if we tarry enough in His presence and not just rush out with a clue we have received.

 

In the School of the Spirit, managing classified information is key. Sometimes we rush to share with others whenever we receive from the Lord. A diligent student in the school of the Spirit knows that certain information may not be ripe for some ears.

 

In 2 Kings 20:12-18, King Hezekiah was seriously sick unto death but through divine intervention, his life was spared. Some folks from Babylon came to felicitate with him over his recovery. Out of excitement, he shared too many details regarding his kingdom with them, showing them the treasures and riches of his kingdom and that became his undoing. The Lord made him realize that his visitors will one day return to plunder all the treasures. From this story, one key lesson is that timing and audience births tactfulness. Joseph learned this the hard way. At the second opportunity he had, Joseph tactfully tested his brothers to know what was in their heart (Please read Gen 44: 1-34).

 

It is important to always check with the Lord – What would you have me do? How will you have me do it? May we work patiently with Him to be fully guided at all times. Amen.