Beginning a new season

I greet again all my readers in name of the Father of all Mercies and pray His grace be with you.

Five years ago, God started me on a training programme in His love through the ministry of John and Carol Arnott and the 'Catch the Fire' network they founded.  He has brought me into a secret and intimate place with Him, where my heart lies open to His loving gaze and healing, and heaven is open all around me for a thousand loving conversations.

This morning, we talked about what is happening now.  Through our intimacy, I know He is my loving Father all the time, and all my value and identity come now from Him.  If anyone speaks a different word about me, I know immediately it is not true, and I run to hide in Him in safety.

This intimate relationship with God protects me so that when I encounter damaged people - including myself - I will not be damaged.  I will not "return evil for evil" (1 Peter 3:9 ) nor become "spotted by the world" (James 1:27).

But I am sensing a change in season, spiritually.  A first stage of my training is over, and I have had a big shock: when training is over and you start doing what you have been trained for, at first you will mostly fail.  The overwhelming feeling is the cry: 'What then was it all for?'

But He comes to comfort and reassure.  My failures and sins are all necessary and good, to complete everything God loves to change about me.