Leaving the Comfort Zone: The Unusual Caterpillar That Survived

Article Summary

This personal memory from December 2013 recounts how one caterpillar left its familiar plant and formed a chrysalis beneath a Christmas star light. When the other two caterpillars did not survive, its unexpected journey became a spiritual lesson to me about transformation, courage and following the Holy Spirit beyond familiar boundaries.

A personal memory from December 2013

In early December 2013, I witnessed something small in my front yard that has remained with me ever since. It was the true story of three caterpillars—and the very different path taken by one of them.

Picture 1—The newly emerged butterfly beside its empty chrysalis beneath the star light, 4 December 2013. Personal photograph.

Three Caterpillars and One Unusual Choice

The three caterpillars appeared during the Christmas season. Two remained on the poison ivy plant, where I expected them to form their chrysalises. The third caterpillar did something completely unexpected: it crawled away from the plant and attached itself beneath one of the star-shaped Christmas lights in my front yard.

At first, I thought this third caterpillar was unlikely to survive. It seemed exposed. Surely a bird, a hungry spider or some other danger would find it there. I returned to my daily routine believing there was probably no hope for it.

Each morning, however, I continued looking through the window and watching the other two caterpillars. In time, they formed shiny green chrysalises among the leaves.

A Shining Chrysalis Beneath the Star

One day, while studying the star lights—perhaps subconsciously looking for the missing caterpillar—I saw something tucked beneath one of the stars. To my amazement, it was a brilliant, shining chrysalis. The third caterpillar had survived the journey from the plant to the light.

The unusual chrysalis beneath the clear star light, photographed on 3 December 2013. Personal photograph.

I stood in awe, wondering whether the developing butterfly inside would survive. It was unusual to see a chrysalis beneath a human-made light, and the distance the caterpillar had crawled seemed remarkable to me.

When the sun set and the Christmas lights began to glow, I would stand beside the window with peppermint tea in my china cup. The chrysalis reflected the colours radiating from the star light and appeared to glitter. Yet I also worried. Could the warmth from the light harm the delicate life within it?

When the Familiar Place Was Not the Safest

As time passed, the two chrysalises that had remained among the leaves lost their shine. When I went outside to inspect them, I was shocked to see black jumper ants around the interiors. Both shells were empty and appeared partly eaten.

I immediately hurried to the star light to check the third chrysalis. To my relief, it was still intact.

Then, one morning, the third caterpillar emerged as a Danaid Eggfly butterfly—whole, beautiful and healthy. The one I had thought least likely to survive had become the sole survivor.

The chrysalis and the wider garden scene after the butterfly emerged, 3–4 December 2013. Personal photographs.

The Lesson I Heard from the Holy Spirit

While I wondered what this unusual event could mean, I heard the gentle, soft voice of the Holy Spirit. The message I understood was:

Sometimes I need to go against the norm, go the extra mile and go the distance to reach my full potential—even when it does not seem to make sense.

To me, the butterfly’s journey became a living parable. Its unusual path had looked vulnerable and unsafe, yet that was where its transformation reached completion. What appeared to be the sensible and familiar place had not protected the other two.

This memory now brings to mind Paul’s words about refusing conformity and allowing God to transform the mind:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

— Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

The connection is not that every unusual decision is automatically right. Rather, I was reminded not to mistake familiarity for safety or conformity for wisdom. There are times when the Holy Spirit calls us beyond what feels normal, asking us to listen carefully and trust His leading.

✨ Deep Treasure

The third caterpillar’s path looked like the dangerous one, yet it became the place where transformation was completed. Sometimes leaving the comfort zone is not about being reckless; it is about being willing to follow God beyond the boundaries of what we already understand.

Looking Back at the Memory

More than a decade later, this memory still speaks to me. The caterpillar travelled farther than the others, chose an unexpected place and did what appeared unusual and unthinkable. In the end, the journey that set it apart also placed it on the path through which I received a lasting spiritual lesson.

The star light was not magical. It was an ordinary object in an ordinary front yard during Christmas 2013. Yet God used that small scene to teach me about courage, transformation and the importance of paying attention when His Spirit gently draws me beyond my comfort zone.

Sometimes the smallest moments in creation carry lessons that remain with us for a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did this experience take place?

It took place during the Christmas season in December 2013. The selected photographs capture the chrysalis beneath the star light on 3 December and the emerged butterfly on 4 December.

Why was the third caterpillar's behaviour so unusual?

Unlike the other two caterpillars, it left the poison ivy plant and travelled across the yard to form its chrysalis beneath a star-shaped Christmas light. The distance and exposed location made me doubt that it would survive.

What happened to the three caterpillars?

The two chrysalises that remained among the leaves lost their shine and were later found empty and partly eaten, with black jumper ants around them. The third chrysalis remained intact, and a healthy Danaid Eggfly butterfly emerged from it.

What spiritual lesson did I receive from this memory?

I understood the Holy Spirit to be reminding me that there are times when I must go beyond the norm, travel the extra distance and leave familiar boundaries to reach my full potential. Romans 12:2 connects with this personal reflection through its themes of refusing conformity and being transformed.

Is it always easy to leave the norm way of doing things?

No. That's when relying, trusting and moving in faith in God guided by the move of the Holy Spirit becomes crucial in seasons of change.

Topics: Leaving the comfort zone, Christian testimony, Holy Spirit, transformation, Romans 12:2, lessons from nature, Danaid Eggfly butterfly, December 2013 memory

The Hidden Ways God Speaks: Nathaniel and the Mysterious Stranger

Article Summary

This personal testimony describes two unexpected moments that my beloved Sunray and I received as answers to prayer: a fast-food worker mistakenly calling him Nathaniel, a name meaning “God has given,” and a stranger delivering timely encouragement in a gym car park while I was still praying with him by phone.

I have lately been witnessing the many ways in which God can speak. Today I want to share an unlikely two-part story that baffled my beloved Sunray and me. He experienced the events directly, while I remained on the other end of the phone as a witness to what unfolded in the background.

God May Speak in One Way or Another

I remembered a passage about God speaking in more than one way, including through dreams and visions while people sleep:

“For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.”

- Job 33:14 (NKJV)

The following verses describe a dream or night vision when deep sleep falls upon people as they slumber in their beds. In its original setting, this is part of Elihu's speech to Job. It reminded me to remain attentive because an answer may arrive in a form I did not expect.

Part One: The Unexpected Name Nathaniel

My beloved Sunray and I had been praying together about personal needs and difficult matters in his life. When our prayer ended, he drove to a fast-food restaurant in his local city while we remained connected by phone.

A worker unexpectedly called him Nathaniel. She immediately apologised and seemed puzzled about why that name had come out of her mouth, especially because Sunray's real name begins in a very different part of the alphabet.

I heard the exchange through the phone and felt led to investigate the meaning of Nathaniel. What I found stopped me in my tracks.

A name graphic describing Nathaniel as “given by God.” Original image source: Pinterest.

The meaning that encouraged us

Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical name Nathanael. Its Hebrew roots carry the meaning “God has given” or “gift of God.” Because we had just prayed about something Sunray needed, I received the mistaken name as immediate encouragement: God had heard the prayer, and what was needed would be given.

Excitement entered my voice as I shared the meaning with him. I encouraged him that I believed God had answered us. Over the following days, the very thing he had prayed about was placed into his hands.

Part Two: The Stranger in the Car Park

The second moment came when my beloved Sunray was passing through another hard situation. He was sitting in a car park connected to the gym where he was a member. He had intended to go inside, but he felt so low and burdened by what had happened that he reclined his seat and closed his eyes.

I was again on the phone with him and felt led to pray. A few minutes later, after he felt calmer and less burdened, something unexpected happened.

1. Sunray heard a man's voice outside his vehicle and turned towards it.
2. He wound down the window while I remained silently present on the other side of the phone.
3. The stranger said he had seen Sunray lying back with his eyes closed.
4. He explained that he felt led by the Holy Spirit to tell Sunray that he was on the right path, should keep going and should not look back.
5. The man said he did not know why he had to deliver the message, only that he needed to obey. He then drove away without knowing that I had heard the encounter.

You are on the right path. Keep going, and do not look back.

Sunray looked back towards the phone, and I looked at him through the call. We were stunned, mind-blown and amazed. We believed that God had again met us in prayer, this time through a complete stranger who could not have known the private conversation taking place.

We praised God together. When our conversation ended, I remained stunned and energised by the experience, reflecting again on the truth that God may speak in one way or another.

Was the Mysterious Stranger an Angel?

Sunray later looked for the man but did not see him again in that car park or entering the gym. I cannot prove who he was, and I do not want to turn a possibility into a certainty. Yet the encounter reminded me of this Scripture:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

- Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV)

I would not be surprised if the mysterious man had been an angel in disguise, but this remains my personal possibility rather than a fact I can establish. What I do know is that the encouragement arrived at the moment Sunray needed it, and I witnessed the timing for myself.

What the Encounter Changed in Me

Without revealing private details, I had become angry about how harshly Sunray had been treated by someone who professed to be a Christian. The message in the car park strengthened my conviction that the treatment he had experienced was wrong and that he needed encouragement to continue forward.

At the same time, only God knows another person's heart. I cannot declare that someone's heart is wicked based on what I know from the outside. Jesus instead teaches us to pay attention to fruit: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). A public profession of Christianity does not excuse cruelty behind closed doors.

Whatever doubts I had about my Sunray died that day. I saw a man in pain receive timely encouragement to keep walking forward. The experience left me with deeper compassion for him and deeper confidence that God sees what other people may never see.

When Dirt Is Thrown at the Tree

As I reflected on what had been thrown at my beloved Sunray through harsh treatment, another picture came to me. Sometimes people throw “dirt” at us through accusations, rejection, cruelty or words intended to diminish us. Dirt may land on us, but it does not have to define us or bury what God is growing.

In the natural world, rain that passes through a tree's canopy is called throughfall, while rain that travels down its branches and trunk is called stemflow. That water can carry some deposited material and dissolved nutrients towards the forest floor, where tree roots take up water and mineral nutrients from the soil. Trees do not need “vitamins” in the human sense, and not everything deposited on a tree is beneficial; some substances can be harmful. Yet this natural process gave me a spiritual picture of how God can redeem what others intended for harm.

“that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word”

- Ephesians 5:26 (NKJV)

The Word of God is like cleansing rain in this reflection. It does not call cruelty good. Rather, truth washes over what happened and helps us separate the poison we must reject from the wisdom, discernment, compassion and endurance God can grow in us. What was meant to shame or destabilise us can, in God's hands, become part of a deeper root system and a more solid foundation.

The root-system lesson

• The dirt pictures the accusations, rejection or mistreatment people may throw at us.
• The rain pictures the washing of God's Word, which brings truth and cleansing.
• The roots picture our hidden life of prayer and private communion with God.
• The mineral nutrients picture the wisdom, discernment, compassion and endurance that God can draw out of a hard season.
• The firmer foundation pictures a life increasingly rooted and built up in Christ.

Much of a tree's strengthening takes place unseen beneath the surface. In the same way, some of God's deepest work in us happens privately. Through prayer and the Word, we learn what to release, which truth to retain and how to receive nourishment after a Word-washing season. We do not have to let the dirt thrown by others become our identity; we can allow God to use even that season to establish us more deeply in Him, becoming “rooted and built up in Him” (Colossians 2:7).

This does not mean that we are forbidden to feel sad, lament what happened, report wrongdoing, seek help or establish healthy boundaries. Godly endurance is not silent permission for another person to continue causing harm. The hope is that the dirt will not have the final word: after the rain, God remains able to bring cleansing, nourishment, stronger roots and restoration.

Spiritual discernment still matters

Receiving an unexpected name, coincidence or message does not mean that every unusual event automatically comes from God. Scripture says, “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). I weigh experiences against Scripture, their fruit, wise counsel and whether they lead towards truth, love, repentance and faithfulness to Christ.

One thing is certain: we cannot fool God. We cannot claim publicly to belong to Him while practising cruelty in private and assume that He does not see. God sees hidden suffering, honours sincere love, and remains able to redeem and restore.

✨ Deep Treasure

An ordinary mistake at a restaurant and an unexpected voice in a car park became extraordinary encouragement to us. Whether through a name, a stranger or the quiet timing of an answer, God can meet a burdened heart in a way that reminds us: He sees, He hears, and He has not forgotten. Even dirt thrown by others can be washed through the truth of His Word and redeemed into deeper roots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Bible passage says God speaks in one way or another?

Job 33:14 says that God may speak in one way or another without people perceiving it. Verses 15-16 continue with dreams and visions during sleep.

What does the name Nathaniel mean?

Nathaniel is an English variant of biblical Nathanael. The name comes from Hebrew elements meaning “God has given” and is also commonly explained as “gift of God.”

Was the stranger definitely an angel?

I do not know. Hebrews 13:2 shows that Scripture allows for people encountering angels without recognising them, but it does not prove the identity of this particular stranger. I preserve it as an open possibility within my testimony.

How should an unexpected spiritual message be evaluated?

Test it rather than accepting it automatically. Compare it with Scripture, examine its fruit, seek wisdom and reject anything that leads away from the character and teaching of Christ.

Does trusting God mean I must silently endure mistreatment?

No. You may lament, tell the truth, report wrongdoing, seek wise help and set healthy boundaries. Trusting God to redeem a painful season does not make the mistreatment good or require you to remain exposed to harm.

Scripture and Sources

• Job 33:14-16 - God speaking in more than one way (NKJV).
• Meaning and Hebrew roots of Nathanael, with references to Strong's Hebrew and Greek entries.
• Hebrews 13:2 - entertaining angels without knowing it (NKJV).
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 - testing all things (NKJV).
• Matthew 7:16-20 - recognising fruit (NKJV).
• Ephesians 5:26 - the washing of water by the Word (NKJV).
• Colossians 2:6-7 - rooted and built up in Christ (NKJV).
• Chen and others (2022) - throughfall, stemflow and nutrient movement in forest ecosystems.

Topics Covered: how God speaks, Job 33:14-16, answers to prayer, the meaning of Nathaniel, God has given, unexpected strangers, possible angel encounters, Hebrews 13:2, the washing of the Word, rooted in Christ, spiritual growth, healthy boundaries, discernment, restoration and my beloved Sunray.

Knowing True Power and Authority

Article Summary

A scene from the 2018 film Samson led me to reflect on God-given courage and the Spirit’s power. That reflection met a very personal fear: driving. This testimony follows my first frightened attempt, a five-minute victory and the day I finally trusted God enough to take a different route to my daughter’s school.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

— 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

A Film, a Sick Child and a Timely Lesson

It began while I was browsing YouTube for a family-friendly movie to watch with my sick eight-year-old. I do not believe it was by chance that I found the Pure Flix film Samson. The picture was clear, the story held my attention and one scene especially moved me: Samson facing the Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.

Watching Samson pray and ask the Most High for strength to defend himself was empowering. It led me to think about the Spirit of God and the courage available to born-again believers—those who confess Jesus as Lord, believe that God raised Him from the dead and follow Him in faith.

Samson killing the thousand Philistines
(reflecting how when we encounter issues in life that feels like a thousand attacks we must not give up)

What Samson’s Strength Means—and Does Not Mean

Judges records that “the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon” Samson before he defeated one thousand Philistines with the donkey’s jawbone (Judges 15:14–17). The New Testament teaches that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in believers (Romans 8:11).

This does not mean that every believer is promised Samson’s physical strength or assignment. God gives different gifts and callings. The application I drew was spiritual and personal: when fear and weakness feel like a thousand attacks, I can ask God for the courage, wisdom, knowledge and strength needed to obey Him—always within His will.

Biblical account and film portrayal

The film is a dramatic interpretation. Scripture should remain the authority for Samson’s story. His violent conflict belongs to Israel’s historical narrative in Judges; my devotional application concerns overcoming fear and weakness, not harming people or treating others as enemies.

When Faith Had to Move Into Action

The movie made me think about my own doubt that God would keep me safe while I drove. Two years earlier, I had been bound by fear of driving. Eventually, I understood the Lord to be telling me that it was time to practise my faith through action.

At first, I was terrified. I walked around the car and prayed over it. Then I opened the driver’s door, sat behind the black steering wheel and reached with my right hand to turn the key. My heart seemed to beat in the middle of my collarbone, and I could feel my necklace rising and sinking with every beat.

I cowered and pleaded with my husband to drive. He watched my every move and then relieved me of the task. I moved to the passenger seat feeling defeated and guilty because I had not completed what I believed the Holy Spirit had instructed me to do.

The Five-Minute Victory

The next time I tried, I drove out. My husband was beside me in the passenger seat, and the drive lasted only five minutes, but I felt confident and happy that I had listened and taken the step.

The verse that helped me move outside my comfort zone was 2 Timothy 1:7. Its exact wording redirected my attention: God had not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. Courage did not require me to feel nothing. It required me to act with love, clear thinking and self-control even while fear was present.

Faith expressed in a small step

My first victory was not a long or dramatic journey. It was a supported five-minute drive. That small act became evidence that fear did not have to make every decision for me.

Taking the Different Route

Two days before writing the original testimony, I finally decided to use my husband’s route when taking our daughter to school. Before starting, I prayed and asked the Lord for strength and courage. I searched within myself for doubt and found none. As I pictured the road I was supposed to take, I understood the Holy Spirit to be telling me that it was time to obey, move forward and try the path that still felt frightening to my flesh.

This felt like the fourth or fifth time I had received the same prompting. On earlier school drives, the alternative road would come to mind, but I would plead in my heart that I was not ready and would take the route I considered easier.

After immersing myself in God’s Word in many forms—watching Samson, reading about women God used, praying and studying the Bible—I finally felt ready. I believed that the Spirit who empowers God’s people was with me. I did not want fear to keep me from obeying, and I trusted that God would not abandon me.

I drove the route shown to me and discovered that it was easier than my normal route. There were no roundabouts, it was quicker and it used less fuel. The path I had feared turned out to be the simpler one.

Remembering What God Has Done

Reflecting on Samson reminded me that God used imperfect people. They had flaws, suffered consequences, repented and continued learning obedience. Their stories show that the power belonged to God, not to human perfection.

The Bible records many extraordinary works of God:

• Samson was empowered against the Philistines (Judges 15:14–17).
• Elisha prayed and the Syrian army was struck with blindness (2 Kings 6:15–23).
• David defeated Goliath with a sling and a stone (1 Samuel 17:45–50).
• Esther found favour with the king and interceded for her people (Esther 5:1–8).
• God caused an iron axe head to float through Elisha (2 Kings 6:1–7).
• The Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away and he was later found at Azotus (Acts 8:39–40).
• Jesus and His disciples healed the sick, confronted demons and raised the dead in the biblical accounts.
• Jesus walked on water, and Peter also walked toward Him until fear and doubt overtook his focus (Matthew 14:22–33).

These are biblical miracle accounts, not techniques that people can command at will. They point to God’s authority and to His freedom to work according to His purposes.

Elisha commanding the heavenly hosts to smite the Syrians with blindness

Scriptural wording for the Elisha account

In 2 Kings 6, Elisha sees that God’s heavenly army is present and then prays to the LORD concerning the Syrians. The text says that the LORD struck them with blindness according to Elisha’s prayer. The power and command ultimately belong to God.

Faith, Courage and Wise Action

Prayer helped me confront fear, but faith did not remove the need for wise driving. Courage on the road must still include proper licensing, attention, road rules, safe speed and support while building confidence. A perceived spiritual prompting should never be used to override safety or place other road users at risk.

For someone whose driving fear is severe or persistent, a calm supervising driver, a qualified driving instructor or appropriate professional support may be part of the answer. Small and safe steps are not a failure of faith; they can be the practical works through which confidence grows.

✨ Deep Treasure

The road I feared was ultimately the easier road. The deepest victory was not simply learning a new route; it was discovering that obedience could be practised one safe step at a time. My first step lasted five minutes. Later, that small beginning helped me face a larger decision with power, love and a sound mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 2 Timothy 1:7 teach about fear?

The verse contrasts a spirit of fear with power, love and a sound mind. It does not necessarily mean believers will never feel afraid; it teaches that fear does not have to rule their choices or silence the gifts God has given them.

Do Christians receive the same physical strength as Samson?

Scripture does not promise every believer Samson’s physical strength or calling. Believers receive the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit distributes different gifts and empowers people for different assignments according to God’s will.

How can faith help when driving feels frightening?

Faith may support prayer, calm thinking and the willingness to take a safe next step. Practical help also matters: practise with a suitable supervisor or instructor, begin with manageable routes and follow every road-safety requirement.

Is the alternative route presented as a command for everyone?

No. This is Anna Towan’s personal testimony about what she understood as the Holy Spirit’s prompting in her circumstances. Readers should not treat another person’s experience as a substitute for Scripture, wisdom, safety or their own responsible discernment.

Sources and Further Reading

• Judges 13–16 — the biblical account of Samson
• 2 Timothy 1:6–8 — power, love and a sound mind
• Romans 8:9–11 and 1 Corinthians 12:3–11 — the Spirit dwelling in believers and distributing gifts
• 2 Kings 6:1–23 — the floating axe head, heavenly army and blinded Syrians
• Acts 8:39–40, John 14:11–14 and Matthew 14:22–33
• Samson — official trailer, Pure Flix, 2018

About This Post

This testimony records how the story of Samson, 2 Timothy 1:7 and repeated small acts of obedience helped Anna Towan (Ms AM) confront her fear of driving. It preserves the personal experience while distinguishing the biblical text, the film’s dramatic portrayal and the practical responsibilities of safe driving.

Topics Covered: Samson, Judges 15, 2 Timothy 1:7, spirit of fear, power love and a sound mind, fear of driving, Christian testimony, courage, obedience, Holy Spirit, biblical miracles, Elisha, David and Goliath, Esther, Philip in Acts 8, John 14 and road safety.

DAILY DEATH of FLESH, DAILY BIRTH of SPIRIT

Article Summary

This devotional reflects on what it means to deny myself, take up my cross daily and allow the Holy Spirit—not my flesh—to direct my choices. It connects daily surrender with generosity, representing Jesus faithfully, loving difficult people, praying through sickness and receiving help from other believers.

Learning to Die Daily

Many times I have listened to and obeyed my flesh, but the Holy Spirit convicts me not to let my flesh rule. Instead, I must allow the Holy Spirit to rule over my flesh. Because He respects my free will, He gives me the choice to die to myself daily.

I have been reminded gently to die to myself daily and to pick up my cross. To me, this means denying myself, my selfish desires and the learned behaviours of this world—not only occasionally, but every day.

The Holy Spirit then brought these words to me:

“If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

— selected wording from Luke 9:23 (BSB)

I had to switch on my computer and type in the words to discover which book of the Bible they came from. I found them in Luke 9:23. The discovery emphasised that this is a daily instruction: deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus.

Representing Jesus Is Serious Business

The Holy Spirit also reminded me that when someone asks something of me, I should be willing to give—not for my own reputation, but for the sake of Jesus. Being His ambassador on earth is serious business. Misrepresenting Him can have serious consequences because our choices create a spiritual ripple effect in the lives of others.

Pastor Stewart from Freshwater Christian Church said in one of his sermons, “I may be the only ‘Bible’ they read.” His words remind me that someone may form an impression of Jesus through the way I treat them.

Once again, I heard Scripture whispered into my ears:

“And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

— Matthew 5:41 (ESV)

The following verse continues by teaching us to give to the person who asks and not to turn away automatically from someone who wants to borrow. Once again, I searched online to identify the passage and found it in Matthew 5:41–42.

Reflection: Going Beyond the First Mile

The world often teaches us not to give to people whom we believe have tricked, abused or misused us. Jesus’ teaching confronts my instinct to protect my own interests at all costs. He calls me to generosity, non-retaliation and a willingness to go beyond what is demanded.

The wider passage in Matthew 5:39–48 moves from turning the other cheek and going the second mile to loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us. It asks for a spiritual response that looks different from the natural patterns of the world.

An important clarification

Jesus’ teaching about generosity, forgiveness and non-retaliation does not mean that a person must remain in physical danger, conceal abuse or give someone what would enable further harm. Seeking help, reporting danger and setting wise boundaries can exist alongside forgiveness, prayer and a heart that refuses revenge.

God clearly states in His Word the spiritual behaviour I need to show the world. Unfortunately, we often hear about people who claim to be Christ’s ambassadors but hurt others because they have not learned to die to their flesh daily.

My generation has a lot of “spilt milk” to clean up. We need to show the world the truth of who Jesus is and what His disciples and followers should be like. Sometimes it is not easy, but that is why He says to die to self daily—not every few days, weeks or months. It is a daily practice, just as brushing our teeth is a daily practice.

The instruction is simple, even when living it takes time, effort and repeated surrender.

✨ Deep Treasure

Dying to self is not a one-time achievement. It is the daily surrender of the right to let selfish desire rule me. Each time I choose the leading of the Holy Spirit, I have another opportunity to represent Jesus more truthfully and allow His character to shape my response.

A Prayer of Daily Surrender

Prayer

LORD, I allow the Holy Spirit to rule over my spirit and soul, that I may do what You want, not what I want, and that my path before You aligns with Your will. AMEN.

When Sickness Makes Prayer Difficult

After many years of good health, being sick makes this daily practice more challenging. Sometimes my mouth wants to remain shut while my body wants to sleep. Yet God can still hear my heart’s prayer, so I can pray inwardly when speaking feels difficult.

This is also when I need to draw on the spiritual support of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I can ask them to stand with me and pray for healing and protection. Daily surrender does not mean carrying every burden alone; sometimes it means humbly allowing the body of Christ to help.

Questions for Personal Reflection

• What selfish desire or learned behaviour is the Holy Spirit asking me to surrender today?
• How can my response to another person represent Jesus more faithfully?
• Where can I practise generosity while also maintaining wise and truthful boundaries?
• Whom can I ask to pray with me when sickness or weakness makes prayer difficult?

Scripture for Further Reflection

• Luke 9:23 — denying self, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus.
• Matthew 5:39–48 — non-retaliation, generosity, loving enemies and praying for persecutors.
• Galatians 5:16–25 — walking in the Spirit rather than fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
• Romans 12:1–2 — offering ourselves to God and being transformed by the renewing of the mind.

Topics Covered: dying to self, daily surrender, Luke 9:23, taking up the cross, walking in the Holy Spirit, Christian generosity, going the second mile, loving enemies, spiritual discernment, prayer during sickness and the body of Christ.

Basking in the Sun results in Bright Blooms: Staying Connected to the Son

Article Summary

This Christian garden devotional reflects on a Federation Daisy in my Adelaide garden and the difference sunlight appeared to make to its blooms. The experience became a personal reminder to remain close to God through Jesus Christ, to welcome the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to let God’s light shape the way I grow and shine.

God can use the simplest moments to teach us. For me, one such lesson came through a hanging flower whose blooms seemed to change after I placed it away from direct sunlight.

A Federation Daisy from Munno Para

One day during my time in Adelaide, my hubby and I went to Bunnings at Munno Para to buy flowers for our hanging pots. We brought home a beautiful Federation Daisy: Sublime Pink, and I hung it in a sheltered place in our backyard.

Federation Daisy: Sublime Pink, photographed by Anna Towan in her Adelaide garden, South Australia. © Anna Towan. All rights reserved.

As I admired the plant over the next few days, I noticed that some of its new blooms looked lighter than the flowers that were already open when we bought it. At first, I did not know what to think. Then I began wondering whether the sheltered position was limiting the sunlight it received.

A small garden note

The Australian breeder’s information for Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Sublime Pink’ describes it as a full-sun plant with musk-pink flowers. That supports the importance of giving this variety plenty of light. However, sunlight may not have been the only reason I saw a difference: bloom age, weather, watering and other growing conditions can also affect how flower colour appears.

Plant information: Ramm Botanicals — Sublime Pink Federation Daisy.

What the Paler Blooms Made Me See

Whether sunlight was the only cause or one part of the difference, the contrast gave me a spiritual picture I could not ignore: the flowers were still blooming, but they did not appear as vivid as the blooms I first admired.

In that moment, I sensed the Holy Spirit impressing a personal lesson upon me. Just as this flower was created to flourish in the sun, I need daily connection with the Son—Jesus Christ. I need God’s Word, prayer, truth, obedience and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit so His life can keep shaping mine.

The connection between sun and Son is an English wordplay and a devotional illustration, not the direct meaning of the biblical words. Yet Scripture itself gives the illustration its foundation by repeatedly revealing God and Christ through the language of light.

How Does This Apply to My Connection with God?

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

— 1 John 1:5 (NKJV)

In its surrounding context, 1 John connects walking in the light with fellowship, truth, confession and the cleansing work of Jesus Christ. God’s light is not merely a cheerful feeling. It reveals what is true and calls us into honest relationship with Him.

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

— Jesus in John 8:12 (NKJV)

Jesus does not merely point toward light; He calls Himself the Light of the world. My brightest spiritual growth does not come from trying to manufacture a glow of my own. It comes from following Christ and allowing His truth, grace and love to be visible through my life.

✨ Deep Treasure

A flower does not create the sunlight it needs; it turns toward the light and receives it. In the same way, I do not create the light of Christ. I remain near Him, receive His truth and allow His life to transform the way I think, love, serve and respond.

Letting His Light Become Visible

Staying connected to God is not a performance for earning His love. It is a living relationship that may include:

• reading Scripture and allowing it to correct as well as comfort me;
• speaking honestly with God in prayer;
• responding when the Holy Spirit brings conviction or direction;
• obeying what God has already made clear;
• remaining in healthy fellowship with other believers; and
• letting love and good works point beyond me to my Father in heaven, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:14–16.

A Gentle Word for Shaded Seasons

Not every shaded season is caused by spiritual neglect. Grief, illness, exhaustion, waiting and circumstances outside our control can make life feel dim. Those experiences do not prove that God has left us or that our faith has failed.

Even then, we can turn honestly toward Him. Sometimes shining looks less like visible brightness and more like quiet trust, receiving help, enduring one day at a time or holding onto a small promise from Scripture.

My Personal Lesson

Keep my connection with God and heaven so that His light can colour the way I live. I want to remain close to Jesus Christ, listen to the Holy Spirit and allow my life to shine in a way that glorifies God rather than drawing attention only to myself.

A Prayer to Remain in God’s Light

Father, thank You for using ordinary moments in creation to draw my attention back to You. Jesus, You are the Light of the world; help me follow You and remain close to You. Holy Spirit, guide me into truth, reveal what needs to change and grow Your fruit in my life. In bright seasons and shaded ones, teach me to trust You and to reflect Your love. Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bible directly teach a sun/Son word connection?

No. The matching sound of sun and Son is an English devotional wordplay. The biblical foundation is the direct teaching that God is light and that Jesus is the Light of the world.

Did shelter definitely cause the paler flowers?

I cannot know from this observation alone. Sublime Pink is a full-sun variety, so light matters, but flower age, weather, watering and other growing conditions may also influence the colour we see.

How can a Christian remain connected to God?

Through trust in Jesus Christ, prayer, Scripture, obedience, honest repentance, fellowship and reliance on the Holy Spirit. These practices do not purchase God’s love; they help us live responsively within the relationship He gives us by grace.

Topics Covered: God is light, Jesus the Light of the world, Holy Spirit, Christian growth, abiding in Christ, Federation Daisy, Sublime Pink, Adelaide garden devotional, sun and Son illustration, letting your light shine.

Revealing of the Holy Spirit: Lessons from Matthew 20 and 1 Samuel 17

Article Summary

This devotional records what I sensed the Holy Spirit teaching me while reading Matthew 20 and 1 Samuel 17. It explores grace without comparison, persistent prayer, spiritual readiness, David’s tested faith, God-given growth and the importance of examining every personal insight in the light of Scripture.

Important Note

God is the revealer of secrets. Christians confess one God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus names the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together in Matthew 28:19 (NKJV).

At the same time, a personal impression is not equal to Scripture. The Bible teaches us not to quench the Spirit, but also to “test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21, NKJV). Prayerful reflection, biblical context and humility belong together.

“He will guide you into all truth...”

— John 16:13 (NKJV)

The Question That Began This Reflection

I had recently joined an Influencers Church Facebook group called Influencers 30’s. The group focused on Bible readings and invited us to discuss what we believed the Holy Spirit was teaching us.

Discussion prompt — 18 May

“Today we are looking at 1 Samuel 17 and Matthew 20 in our devotions. What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you today?”

These were the thoughts that came to me as I read. Looking back, I can see both insights I still treasure and details that need to be expressed more carefully. That is part of spiritual growth: we remain teachable, return to the text and allow our understanding to mature.

What I Saw in Matthew 20

Grace Does Not Give Us Grounds for Pride

In the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, those hired early and those hired late each receive the agreed wage. My first response was that God does not invite us to rank ourselves above people who are called later. The landowner’s generosity challenges comparison, entitlement and spiritual pride.

The parable should not be reduced to a complete formula about rewards for every kind of ministry. Its force is that God is generous and free to give what belongs to Him. Jesus concludes, “So the last will be first, and the first last” (Matthew 20:16, NKJV).

Jesus Prepared His Disciples and Redefined Greatness

Jesus again told the disciples that He would be betrayed, condemned, crucified and raised on the third day. He was preparing them for what lay ahead, even though they did not yet understand fully.

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons asked that her sons sit beside Jesus in His kingdom. Jesus did not respond with uncontrolled anger, but neither did He simply approve the request. He said they did not understand what they were asking, spoke of the cup of suffering, and explained that those places were prepared by His Father. When the other ten became displeased, Jesus turned the entire conversation toward service: greatness in His kingdom is not about grasping status but becoming a servant (Matthew 20:17–28).

This still teaches me not to become offended merely because another person asks God for something. God may answer differently from what any of us expect. He may say yes, no, wait, or reshape the request; Scripture does not promise that we will always receive a full explanation.

The Two Blind Men Kept Calling

Near Jericho, two blind men cried out to Jesus for mercy. The crowd warned them to be quiet, yet they called out even more. Jesus stopped, asked what they wanted and responded with compassion (Matthew 20:29–34).

The passage does not say Jesus arranged the crowd’s discouragement as a test. What it does show is that the men persisted despite opposition and answered Jesus plainly: they wanted their eyes opened. Their story encourages me to bring a clear and honest request to Christ while trusting His wisdom and compassion.

Prayer, Watchfulness and the Lesson I Remembered

Another connection came to me from Gethsemane. Jesus prayed three times and surrendered Himself to the Father’s will. Peter and the others repeatedly fell asleep, and Peter later denied Jesus three times. I summarised the contrast with a phrase that was memorable to me:

✨ Deep Treasure

Prayer helps us stand; spiritual sleep leaves us vulnerable. My original words were “prayer = pass; sleep = stumble.” I now understand this as a personal reminder, not an automatic rule. Jesus did not avoid the cross by praying—He obeyed the Father through suffering. Peter’s denial also cannot be explained by sleep alone. Yet Jesus’ instruction remains important: watch and pray when temptation presses near (Mark 14:32–42, 66–72).

The Helmet of Salvation and Guarding What Shapes Us

My thoughts then moved to the armour of God. Paul tells believers to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, and then to continue “praying always” (Ephesians 6:10–18, NKJV).

I pictured the helmet protecting the head and began reflecting on what I receive through my eyes and ears, what I speak with my mouth, and what I allow to occupy my thoughts. Ephesians does not assign the eyes, ears, nose and mouth as separate functions of the helmet, so this is my devotional application rather than Paul’s stated explanation.

Jesus says that the eye is the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22–23), while 1 John declares that God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). These passages encourage careful discernment about the entertainment, conversations, images and ideas that shape us. This is not a call to fear everything we see; it is an invitation to choose what nourishes truth, purity, love and wisdom.

Personal application: a spiritual intake check

1. What am I repeatedly watching and reading?
2. What voices am I allowing to shape my thoughts?
3. What words am I speaking about God, myself and other people?
4. What desires are guiding my hands, feet and decisions?
5. Which habits produce love, peace and truth—and which ones pull me away from them?

What I Saw in 1 Samuel 17

First Samuel 17 remains one of my favourite chapters. David’s encounter with Goliath gave me several lessons about courage, calling, preparation and reliance on God.

1. Do Not Let Every Voice Define What Is Possible

David’s oldest brother, Eliab, accused him of pride and wrong motives. David did not allow that accusation to become the final word. He turned and continued asking about the situation (1 Samuel 17:26–32).

For me, the lesson is not that every criticism should be ignored. Wise correction matters. But another person’s fear, anger or misunderstanding does not automatically cancel what God has prepared us to do. Courage listens to God without becoming proud or reckless.

2. Private Faithfulness (battles) Can Prepare Us for Public Responsibility (war)

Before David faced Goliath, he had protected his father’s sheep from a lion and a bear. Those earlier acts of courage took place away from the watching army, yet they gave David a history of remembering God’s deliverance.

This led me to think about “private battles”: the choices we make at home, in prayer and in unnoticed moments. Even a small prompting—such as picking up an orange peel and placing it in a bin, an everyday attentiveness I learned about through John Paul Jackson—can train us to respond faithfully. Small obedience does not earn God’s favour, but it can form habits of care and readiness.

3. David Did Not Fight in Untested Armour

Saul dressed David in his armour, but David said he could not walk in it because he had not tested it. He removed it and went with the staff, sling and stones he knew (1 Samuel 17:38–40).

The text does not say Saul’s armour was the wrong size or that it represented Saul’s calling. My personal application is that we should be careful about copying someone else’s method merely because it worked for them. We can receive counsel and learn from others while still recognising the gifts, experience and responsibilities God has entrusted to us.

4. David Remembered Who Had Delivered Him

David’s confidence was not in the sling as an object. He remembered that the Lord had delivered him before, and he declared that “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:34–50, NKJV).

David still had to step forward, run towards the battle and use the skill he had practised. Dependence on God was not passivity. Faith and action met in the same moment, while the glory belonged to God.

5. The Five Stones and the Armour of God

David chose five smooth stones and carried his sling. The stone struck Goliath in the forehead, and David prevailed. The passage does not say that David chose five stones because Goliath had four brothers, nor does it explain a separate symbolic meaning for each stone.

The sling and five stones nevertheless reminded me personally of the six named pieces in Paul’s description of God’s armour: the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit. That numerical connection is a devotional association, not a claim that 1 Samuel 17 secretly lists the armour of Ephesians 6. Paul then continues immediately into persevering prayer.

Growth, Gardening and God’s Timing

My gardening experience gave me another picture. A flower is pollinated; a small fruit begins to form; the fruit develops; and eventually it becomes ready for harvest. Spiritual growth can also involve stages. We may feel ready while God is still developing patience, wisdom, character or practical skill in us.

Gardens also face weeds, snails, caterpillars, disease and fungus. Their signs can reveal where attention and care are needed. Some bok choy plants quickly send out new leaves after being eaten; others take longer and need extra tender loving care.

A Necessary Clarification About Suffering

God does not need to let an enemy attack us so He can discover what it will do; He already knows. Scripture also does not permit us to explain another person’s tragedy as a simple spiritual experiment. Trials may reveal weaknesses, deepen endurance or show where help is needed, but suffering can also be mysterious and deeply painful. We should respond with compassion, prayer and practical care rather than quick explanations.

Joseph’s imprisonment is another picture I once connected with this garden idea. Genesis does not call the prison a recovery stage or describe Joseph as fruit waiting to be harvested. What it does say is that the Lord was with Joseph in prison, and in time Joseph was brought into a position of responsibility in Egypt (Genesis 39:19–23; 41:37–44). God’s presence was not absent during the hidden season.

When I originally wondered whether to share these reflections, Jesus’ words in Matthew encouraged me:

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light...”

— Matthew 10:27 (NKJV)

Sharing what we believe we have learned still carries responsibility. We speak humbly, distinguish Scripture from personal symbolism, welcome correction and remain willing to grow.

✨ Deep Treasure

The Holy Spirit does not merely give us exciting connections; He leads us towards the truth of Christ. A genuine spiritual insight should make us more humble, more faithful to Scripture, more loving towards people and more willing to obey God, with joy.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving us Your Word and for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth. Teach me to listen without becoming proud, to test my understanding without becoming closed, and to hold fast to what is good. Help me serve without comparison, pray with watchfulness, recognise the preparation You have already given me and trust You through every stage of growth. When I face opposition, remind me that the battle belongs to You. Keep my words, thoughts and actions centred on Jesus. Amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I know whether an insight is from the Holy Spirit?

Test it against Scripture read in context. Ask whether it agrees with the character and teaching of Jesus, produces godly fruit and can withstand wise, humble examination. A strong feeling alone is not final proof.

Does Matthew 20 teach that every Christian receives exactly the same reward?

The labourers receive the same agreed wage, but the parable’s central emphasis is the landowner’s generosity and the danger of comparison. It should not be made into a complete system covering every biblical teaching about reward.

Did David choose five stones because Goliath had four brothers?

First Samuel 17 does not say this. It records that David chose five smooth stones, but it does not explain why he selected that number. The brothers explanation is a popular idea, not a fact stated in the chapter.

Does wearing the helmet of salvation mean avoiding every difficult image or story?

Ephesians 6 does not give a media checklist. It calls believers to stand in the salvation God gives. We can apply that truth by discerning what repeatedly shapes our minds, while avoiding fear-based or legalistic rules that Scripture does not establish.

Does every hardship mean God is training me for something greater?

Not every hardship comes with an explanation we can see. Trials can produce endurance, but people who suffer also need compassion, lament, safety, medical or practical help, and patient companionship—not a rushed spiritual formula.

Topics Covered: Holy Spirit, hearing God, testing spiritual impressions, Matthew 20, workers in the vineyard, persistent prayer, Gethsemane, armour of God, 1 Samuel 17, David and Goliath, spiritual growth, suffering, Joseph, Christian discernment.

Part 3: Jesus’ Death and Spiritual Armour — The Helper Who Strengthens Us

Article Summary

Part 3 considers Simon of Cyrene carrying Jesus’ cross and the help believers receive from the Holy Spirit. It distinguishes the Gospel account from a personal devotional comparison, then connects the Helper with spiritual fruit, Christ’s covering and the whole armour of God.

Part 3 of the Spiritual Armour Series

This reflection belongs to a larger series. To read parts one and two click here.

As Jesus was led towards His crucifixion, Simon of Cyrene was made to carry His cross. This moment led me to think about a truth in our own walk: we also need help. We cannot live faithfully through our own strength alone.

Our Helper works within us—the Holy Spirit. He teaches us, reminds us of Jesus’ words, guides us in truth and produces spiritual fruit as we yield to Him.

Simon of Cyrene Carried Jesus’ Cross

“Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross.”

— Matthew 27:32 (NKJV)

Matthew records a real event: the soldiers compelled Simon to bear Jesus’ cross. The passage does not say that Simon represented the Holy Spirit. The connection I am drawing is a devotional one—Simon’s visible help on the road to Golgotha reminds me that followers of Jesus are not expected to walk in their own power.

What Scripture directly records	The devotional connection I see
Simon was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross.	The scene reminds me that human strength has limits and that we need God’s help.
Jesus promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit.	The Spirit helps from within by teaching, reminding, guiding and forming Christlike fruit.

Jesus Promised the Helper

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

— John 14:26 (NKJV)

Simon was forced by the soldiers, but the Holy Spirit is not a helper whom we command or compel. He is God’s promised gift. Jesus said that the Helper would teach His followers and bring His words back to their remembrance.

The Holy Spirit’s help does not always remove a difficult road. Often, He strengthens, corrects, comforts and leads us while we walk it. His presence turns our attention back to Christ rather than making us independent of Christ.

✨ Deep Treasure

Simon’s help was visible beside Jesus on the road to the cross. The Holy Spirit’s help is often quieter and inward: He recalls Jesus’ words, shapes our character and enables us to keep standing in the Lord’s strength.

The Holy Spirit Produces Fruit Within Us

The Helper does more than give us information. As we walk with Him, He develops the fruit described in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

This fruit is part of how the life of Christ becomes visible through us. The Spirit helps us answer pressure with truth, respond to people with love and remain faithful when the road is difficult.

The Old and New Testaments illuminate one another, just as the petals belong to one rose. In the same way, Ephesians calls us to take up the whole armour of God rather than isolate only the pieces we prefer.

Putting on Christ and Standing in God’s Armour

Romans 13 places two related instructions close together: “put on the armour of light” and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”. Ephesians 6 then describes the whole armour of God—truth, righteousness, readiness through the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer.

When I first wrote this reflection, I pictured worldly sin as black stains splashed across those who are clothed in Christ. I now understand the relationship more carefully. Our choices can grieve the Holy Spirit and damage our fellowship, witness and spiritual alertness, but every struggle does not mean that Christ’s covering has suddenly fallen away.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

— Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV)

The biblical call to “put on” and “take up” does not teach that believers repeatedly fall in and out of Christ each time they stumble. It calls us to live actively in what God has provided: to stand in truth, practise righteousness, trust God, hold fast to salvation, use His Word and continue in prayer.

A careful distinction

The Holy Spirit can be grieved, yet Ephesians 4:30 also says believers are sealed for the day of redemption. Conviction invites us to repent and return to faithful walking; it is not permission to live carelessly, nor a reason to panic that Christ abandons us whenever we struggle.

The Whole Armour Works Together

My original rose caption said that one cannot use only part of an armour in war. That remains an important lesson. Truth without love can become harsh. Zeal without peace can injure others. Faith is not separated from righteousness, salvation, Scripture or prayer. Ephesians 6:10–18 repeatedly directs us towards the whole armour and towards strength in the Lord—not confidence in ourselves.

The Holy Spirit helps us understand and live by God’s Word, but He does not replace Christ, Scripture or the other gifts God uses to support us. God may also help us through other believers, just as Simon’s hands provided practical help on the road to Golgotha.

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. Teach me, remind me of Jesus’ words and form Your fruit within me. When I am weak, help me stand in the strength You provide. Keep me truthful, faithful, peaceful and prayerful, and help me receive support with humility while also helping others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Matthew 27 say Simon of Cyrene represented the Holy Spirit?

No. Matthew records that Simon was compelled to carry Jesus’ cross. Any comparison with the Holy Spirit is a personal devotional reflection, not an interpretation stated in the passage.

How does the Holy Spirit help believers?

Jesus says the Helper teaches and brings His words to remembrance. Other passages describe the Spirit guiding believers in truth and producing Christlike fruit in their lives.

Can a Christian simply take off the armour of God?

The commands to put on and take up the armour call believers to stand actively in God’s provision. Carelessness and sin matter, but a struggle should not be treated as proof that Christ has instantly withdrawn His covering.

Why does Paul say to take up the whole armour?

Each part belongs to one life of faithfulness: truth, righteousness, gospel peace, faith, salvation, God’s Word and prayer work together as believers stand in the Lord’s strength.

Topics Covered: Jesus’ death, Simon of Cyrene, the Holy Spirit as Helper, armour of God, armour of light, spiritual fruit, grieving the Holy Spirit, Christ’s covering, Matthew 27, John 14 and Ephesians 6.