Growing In Sensitivity To God
By Maria Mason
An excerpt and adaptation from "The Heart Prophet - a Manual for Feelers, Seers and Heart Restorers." adapted for the AIHN
Healing the heart involves cultivating an ongoing connection and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. In the early part of my journey, a prayer minister said something that profoundly shook me: "You know you can't control this healing journey!"
I was taken aback. I thought I was in charge of my heart’s healing, believing it depended entirely on me. I saw my healing as something I owned—and I was determined to control it. What I didn’t realise was that God is the one performing the healing, and we can unintentionally block His work when we fail to trust Him and grow in sensitivity and intimacy with Him, trusting Him every step of the way!
According to the Dictionary of Bible Themes, “spiritual sensitivity is the ability to perceive and respond to the call of God or the spiritual demands of the moment.” 1
Each child of God must develop and cultivate this spiritual sensitivity. Sensitivity is not automatic just because we are born again; it is something we choose to be trained in and then keep choosing.
To get strong, we must use our muscles. This analogy is old, but it just works. If you want to be fit, you must work out. Let's look at Hebrews 5, in the Passion Translation version:
“Solid food is for the mature, whose spiritual senses perceive heavenly matters. And they have been adequately trained by what they’ve experienced to emerge with an understanding of the difference between what is truly excellent and what is evil and harmful.” 2
The word "senses" is the Greek word aistheterion, meaning "an organ of perception." This organ exists as a faculty of the mind and heart and is used to perceive, understand, and judge or weigh information. This is like an insect's antenna or palp used to test things by touch, except it exists internally. Our spiritual senses, then, are paramount to genuine growth and intimacy with God.
Some folks miss this and end up a little in their heads, not their hearts.
However, we can foster an internal culture of sensitivity with the Lord by being diligent to work on our sensitivity. Acknowledging the enemies of our sensitivity is essential. Below is a list of the factors that oppose this deeper sensitivity:
not disciplining our hearts to seek the Lord diligently
not loving His presence and doing all we can to be in His presence
allowing our hearts to get sidetracked by issues that will never matter in eternity
coming under lies, accusations or assignments
emotional withdrawal of our hearts because of trust issues
allowing distractions to steal our hearts’ affection
not growing in Bridal theology but staying very functional in theological terms
not breaking off witchcraft regularly, as it numbs and weakens us, resulting in a loss of vision
not meeting with the saints regularly for intercession, prayer, and worship
relational exhaustion or work exhaustion that steals our affection and time.
Lastly, we must be careful not to become overwhelmed by too much trauma! Trauma is healed by the Spirit when we validate it and receive prayer. We must deal with the little foxes that spoil the vineyard and maintain firm boundaries that protect our spiritual growth. Becoming mature is all about keeping the enemies of our souls in subjection!
We tune in and listen to gain discernment. This type of relationality takes practice, much like a winemaker who tastes the wine to see if it is ready. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” 3
We must taste to see. We must see to taste. We must hear to know. We must understand to feel - all the senses working together for clear perception to occur.
Sensory acumen is gained via sensory practices and experiences. It's then that we will truly be effective in our work. With our gifts consecrated and yielded to God, we can serve with our sensitivity. Song of Songs is the go-to book for awakened sensitivity:
“Arise, My darling, My beautiful one, come with Me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, My darling; My beautiful one, come with Me.” 4
Like the Beloved's call in Song of Songs, we will listen, look for, gaze, peer, speak, arise, come, see, smell, sing, notice and taste!
Some might say the superpower of a believer is to perceive God at every turn and in every season, to be awakened to the romance of His love and then go deeper into the heart journey.
Father, thank You so much for Your love. Lord, make Your Spirit come alive in me and make me aware of You. Lord, awaken new sensitivity within me. Let me not miss You. May I mature in emotional and spiritual realities while knowing You more intimately and lovingly. Keep me clean and washed from all defilement, and may my heart be so open all the days of my life, so my life shines with intimate love of Jesus. Amen.
1 The Dictionary of Bible Themes, by various authors, BookBaby, 1996
2 Hebrews 5: 12-14 TPT
3 Psalm 34:8 NIV
4 Song of Solomon 2:8-13 NIV
This publication is available on Amazon- "The Heart Prophet - a Manual for Feelers, Seers and Heart Restorers."