The flower in the mud

Out of murky, muddy waters grows and blooms the beautiful and delicate water lily.

Out of every sinful man, cleansed by the Precious Blood of Jesus, is a saint in the making.

Years ago, while lying on my bed restless and unable to sleep, i suddenly felt a tremour pulsating through my body, first down my legs right to my toes, and then upwards to my head. Suddenly, i felt my tongue loosen and i broke out in tongues in the middle of the night, at 4 am to be exact.  Initially, it was loud, fast and uncontrollable. Gradually, it became a song and eventually ceased after what seemed like ages. Bewildered, scared and in shock, i thought i was either hallucinating or that something strange was happening to me. Thank God that Ben was with me and he even made me recite the Creed to make sure that i was not possessed! Neither of us had the experience of the gift of tongues then.  That very evening, during a church service, I read these words:

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”   John 14:15-17  (NIV)

I broke down and cried.  What a relief!  I realised that what i had experienced was actually the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Till today, I believe that the Holy Spirit is what i truly need in my life, guiding and teaching me as Jesus had promised.

Just like the water lily, He has redeemed me from the mud of my sin and if i but follow His Will, led by His Holy Spirit, i will become worthy of Heaven.   By R