Blind spots, iniquity, and hard conversations. Part 1

And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more [displaying itself in greater depth] in real knowledge and in practical insight, Philippians 1:9 AMP

What really is mature love and the ability to act through it? Is it born from lots of life experience with the learned and practiced practical lessons from the Holy Spirit? I’m the type that likes to look at the original language and dig into the meaning of scripture. As I looked up this verse in different translations there were LOTS of differences. So, Paul’s writing will often need the Holy Spirit to come alongside you and nudge you in the way only He can as to how the scripture and your life and situation coincide. What He wants to do is often show you your ‘blind spots’. He wants to let me know that there are many ways I still can grow into a better and more mature love. None of us have ‘made it’. We ALL have opportunity to learn and grow up till our final breath. And all of us because of our childhood wounding have ‘blind spots’ usually because of the roots of iniquity that are tangled around those wounds, whether it be fear, pride, or lust (discontentment). And Jesus and the Holy Spirit want to heal and free us from them, and Jesus and Holy Spirit are EXTREMELY patient in this process. Some of these issues can take a lifetime to resolve. He’s not worried about the time it takes.

But I want to grow and learn and have more of His love in me – so that I can be a better ambassador for Him. And I want the Holy Spirit to be able to speak to me about my ‘blind spots’. And that process can be scary, especially if it is brought through another individual in a hard conversation with me. Do we trust Jesus to get us through situations like that? Do we listen to the Holy Spirit in the moment for advice and how we should respond? My human flesh reaction is ALWAYS wrong in those kinds of situations. Am I open to see what I’m missing?

How am I supposed to handle these types of hard conversations? People are VERY different on how they naturally address these kinds of conversations, from one extreme of explosive outburst to the other extreme of shutting down, total denial, and avoidance. And there are innumerable ways between those extremes, in which most of us land. What is the correct way? Allowing the Holy Spirit to first advise you. FIRST going to and asking Him for advice and counsel and listening to Him really well. And sometimes you will have to wait for His response. So be patient. Are you ready to hear the difficult things about yourself? Sometimes, He will ask you to go to a wise friend to ask them how they handle those situations. Sometimes He will take you to certain stories in the scriptures to highlight the mistakes others have made in these situations, and then apply that to your current situation.

Many times, I am confronted by the Holy Spirit about how I am lying to myself. I’m suppressing the truth about myself to myself. I’m in denial. Then I have to look at why I’m in denial, and look at my woundedness, hurt, or trauma and ask the Holy Spirit for the way forward and ask for His healing. Forgiveness is divine, it certainly is NOT innate within us. The ability to forgive is a free will choice HE asks you to make towards yourself and others. The best advice is His advice. The best resource we have is the Holy Spirit. Are you willing to listen to Him? Are you willing to set yourself in a position to wait in silence … and listen for His ‘still small’ whisper?

This conversation will be continued. Are you willing to have these ongoing hard conversations with the Holy Spirit… and with others?