Spiritual Insight for Knowing the Lord
"The fog lifts not by our effort, but by the rising sun—so too, the Spirit reveals what was hidden."
Devotional Credit: Bob Hoekstra, Day by Day by Grace
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Bob Hoekstra’s reflection for today unveils the beautifully relational nature of the new covenant—one that invites us not just to believe in God, but to know Him personally and intimately. This knowledge, however, is not something we grasp by effort or intellect. It’s received. It's a divine unveiling—God giving Himself to us through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Paul's prayer in Ephesians is not that believers would gain facts about God, but that they would receive insight from God—a Spirit-enabled awareness of His nature, His heart, and His ways. This insight doesn’t come through natural sight or worldly wisdom. It’s imparted by the Spirit of God, who searches even the deep things of God and joyfully shares them with us.
Jesus rejoiced that this revelation isn’t reserved for the religious elite, but given freely to those who come with childlike trust. It was the Father who revealed Christ's identity to Peter, not flesh and blood. And it’s the same Spirit of truth who now dwells in us, guiding us into the reality of all Christ has already given.
This is the gracious mystery of the Christian life: the One we long to know is the One who has already come to make Himself known—from within.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
You are not left to figure Me out on your own. I do not ask you to ascend to My wisdom—I have already come down to dwell within you. I have given you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Me, not just know about Me. The world cannot discover Me through intellect, for I dwell in unapproachable light, unseen by natural eyes and untouched by human reasoning.
But you are not of this world. You are Mine. And to you, I reveal what eye has not seen and ear has not heard. I disclose the deep things of My heart through My Spirit, who searches all things and makes them known to you. When you walk with Me in simplicity and trust, I will open the hidden treasures of My presence. I hide nothing from you that I long for you to see.
Just as I rejoiced in revealing truth to the childlike and not the self-assured, I rejoice in pouring into you the riches of Christ. I guide you into all truth. I take of what is Mine—what belongs to Christ—and I unfold it in you, moment by moment. This is your inheritance as one seated with Me in heavenly places: to know Me as I know you.
Let your confidence rest in this—I delight to be known. And I dwell in you to ensure that this knowing is not a pursuit, but a gift received.
—Ephesians 1:16–17, 1 Timothy 6:16, 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2:9–10, Luke 10:21, Matthew 16:16–17, John 16:13–14
My Prayer of Confident Trust
Father, I rest in the truth that You delight to reveal Yourself to me. You’ve already given me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation—He lives in me and gently draws me into deeper knowing of You. I don’t have to strain or strive to find You. You’ve made Yourself known through Christ, and now You are unveiling more of who You are through Your Spirit.
Thank You for removing the veil. I trust You to continue guiding me into all truth, not as a taskmaster but as a loving Father, joyfully walking with His child. I yield to You in this moment, content to know that the One who knows all things lives in me and is always ready to share His heart.