Discovering God’s Treasures from the Deep for Your Writing by Sandi Somers

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

While on a mission trip to South Africa, my friend Dorothy and I walked through a gigantic mall in Durban. We were amazed at the number of jewellery shops. Of course, I thought. South Africa is the diamond and gold centre of the world. Prices were much below what they would have been in Canada. One gold necklace with myriad diamonds cost only $2,000 dollars. How much would that have been in Canada?

 As we stopped to gaze through one display window after another, we discovered many other gems--sapphire, ruby, alexandrite, tourmaline, zircon, aquamarine, some of which I’d never heard before. The most memorable gem for me was tanzanite, found only in neighbouring Tanzania. It is estimated at 1,000 times rarer than diamonds.

 *

 As I thought of how the most beautiful jewels are dug out of mines, often hidden much below ground, I couldn’t help thinking of what Scripture says about the Spirit, who reveals deep secrets to us.

 “But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?...God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells” (Job 28:12, 23)

 “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10b-11).

 “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10a).     

 The Apostle Paul preached for people to know “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).

 Then God spoke of Cyrus, the Persian King who freed the Israelites after their Babylonian captivity, saying, “I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:3).

 “The unfolding of Your words brings light” (Psalm 119:130).

*

 Just as miners tunnel underground for gold and jewels, searching in the seams and corners, we have a role to play in discovering God’s hidden treasures.

 “If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:3-5).

 *

How does this apply to us as writers? Over the last months and years, the Lord has been teaching me principles of discovering the deep things of the Spirit.

 God is the originator and source of our ideas and success. He is ready to reveal deep things of the Spirit, and He prepares us to give us those treasures.

 Be in the Word. Delve into the Scriptures and the Spirit will reveal deep things to you.

A verse or thought you’ve read time and time again lights up in your mind—like a light being turned on in a dark room. What you learned before becomes passe as the Lord makes known something new to you—the new thing you need to write.

 Saturate your preparation and writing with prayer. Develop two-way listening. He invites you to talk with Him about your day-to-day details and the larger visions of what your writing can become.

 Ask God to release the treasures that He wants you to convey to the world, and listen for what He reveals to you. Pray until you receive that spark of inspiration, an “Aha! This is it!” moment, or the Spirit’s gentle whisper, or even a progression of ideas as the days go by.

*

     I speak to you new words—I come to you with

a new vision

a new challenge

mercies, new every morning

The Holy Spirit guides, inspires, directs.

Anita Mathias

 Dare to trust God! Dare to find his Treasures from the Deep!

(Image by E! Online)