FILAS Women Online

Devotional for a deeper, more intimate walk with the God who knows you completely.

Day 94 of 139 — 45 Days Remaining After Today

🌷 Today’s Spiritual Theme

God Sees What’s Being Formed in Secret

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 139:15 (KJV)

“My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.”

Supporting Scripture — Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Devotional Reflection

God Sees What’s Being Formed in Secret

Sis, have you ever been in a season where you felt like you were doing everything you knew to do, but you couldn’t see much progress? You’ve been praying, trying to change certain habits, working on your attitude, learning to respond differently, and making an effort to become more intentional about your relationship with God. But when you look at your life, things don’t seem to be changing as quickly as you’d hoped. And sometimes, if we’re honest, that can become discouraging. We begin wondering whether we’re really growing or simply going through the motions. But here’s something I want us to remember today: Not every meaningful change is immediately visible.

Psalm 139:15 says, “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” David is reflecting on God’s knowledge of him even during the earliest stages of his formation. Before anyone could see who David would become, God already knew him. The phrase “curiously wrought” describes the intricate nature of his formation, like something carefully woven together. And while David is speaking about God’s knowledge of his physical development before birth, this passage also reminds us of a beautiful truth about God’s character: What is hidden from human eyes is never hidden from Him.

And Sis, I believe that truth can encourage us as we think about our spiritual growth. Because sometimes we’re looking for outward evidence of something God is developing inwardly. We want people to recognize that we’re changing. We want our circumstances to reflect the progress we’ve made. We want to see immediate results from the prayers we’ve prayed and the efforts we’ve invested. But spiritual maturity doesn’t always announce itself through major accomplishments or dramatic changes. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as choosing not to respond the way we used to.

Think about it. Maybe there was a time when somebody could say one thing to you, and you’d immediately react. You’d become defensive, frustrated, or determined to have the last word. But now, you’re learning to pause. You’re learning that every comment doesn’t require a response and every disagreement doesn’t have to become an argument. Nobody may congratulate you for that. Nobody may even recognize that you handled the situation differently. But Sis, that’s growth.

Maybe you’re learning to be patient in situations where you used to become anxious. Maybe you’re becoming more honest about your feelings instead of pretending everything is fine. Perhaps you’re beginning to establish healthier boundaries, ask for help when you need it, or recognize when your thoughts are becoming unnecessarily negative. Those changes may not seem impressive to somebody watching from the outside, but they can represent meaningful progress in your life.

And here’s something I’ve been thinking about. We live in a world where almost everything is shared. People post their accomplishments, celebrate their milestones, announce their new opportunities, and allow others to see the results of their hard work. And there’s nothing wrong with celebrating progress. But sometimes we become so focused on what other people are accomplishing publicly that we begin overlooking what we’re learning privately. We compare our unfinished process to somebody else’s visible success and wonder why we’re not further along.

But Sis, you cannot measure the depth of your growth by the amount of attention it receives. Some of the most meaningful changes in our lives happen in quiet moments when nobody else is around. It’s the decision to pray instead of worrying yourself into exhaustion. It’s recognizing that an old habit is no longer helping you. It’s admitting that you were wrong and taking responsibility. It’s choosing to forgive, even when the process is difficult. It’s learning to rest without feeling guilty because you finally understand that being constantly busy doesn’t make you more valuable.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us that Paul was confident God would continue the good work He had begun in the believers at Philippi until the day of Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness in the ongoing work of salvation and spiritual transformation. Our growth as believers isn’t something we accomplish entirely through our own determination. God is at work within us, and we are called to respond through faith, obedience, and a willingness to be transformed.

Now, let me say something important here. Just because growth can happen privately doesn’t mean we should use that idea to avoid accountability or ignore areas where change is needed. Sometimes we tell ourselves we’re growing, but we’re still repeating the same unhealthy patterns without making any effort to address them. Spiritual growth requires more than good intentions. It involves allowing God’s Word to examine our hearts and then responding to what He reveals. We cannot expect transformation while continually resisting the changes we know we need to make.

And Sis, sometimes the reason we become discouraged is that we’re expecting growth to happen faster than it realistically can. We want to overcome years of unhealthy thinking in a few days. We want our reactions to change immediately. We want to become more patient, more disciplined, and more spiritually mature without experiencing the discomfort that sometimes accompanies change. But developing new patterns often requires consistency, humility, and the willingness to begin again when we fall short.

Maybe today you’re working on something that nobody else knows about. Perhaps you’re trying to rebuild your confidence after a difficult experience. Maybe you’re learning to trust God after a season of disappointment. Perhaps you’re trying to change how you communicate, how you handle stress, or how you respond when things don’t go your way. And some days, it may feel as though you’re making progress, while other days you wonder whether you’ve changed at all.

Sis, don’t allow one difficult day to convince you that every previous effort was meaningless. Recognize where you’ve made progress, acknowledge where you still need help, and remain committed to growing. You don’t have to be finished becoming to appreciate how far you’ve come.

And here’s another thought. Sometimes God is developing qualities within us through responsibilities and experiences that seem ordinary. We may be learning patience through daily interactions, compassion through caring for someone else, or humility through situations where we discover that we don’t have every answer. Not every challenge is necessarily something God arranged to teach us a lesson, but we can seek His wisdom and allow our experiences to become opportunities for spiritual growth.

As we continue this Challenge139 journey, I want us to remember that we’ve spent 94 days reflecting on God’s knowledge of us. We’ve examined our thoughts, our attitudes, our words, our fears, and our willingness to trust Him. And perhaps some of the most important changes taking place within us aren’t things we can easily explain to anybody else.

Maybe we’re becoming more aware of how we speak.

Maybe we’re learning to recognize when fear is influencing our decisions.

Maybe we’re becoming more willing to admit when we need help.

Or maybe we’re simply beginning to understand that spiritual growth is a lifelong process, not something we complete after a certain number of devotional days.

And Sis, that’s something worth appreciating.

So today, instead of asking whether everybody else can see your progress, ask yourself whether you’re becoming more responsive to God’s Word. Are you learning to make wiser decisions? Are you becoming more patient with others? Are you recognizing attitudes that need correction? Are you developing a deeper desire to seek God in your everyday life?

Because the most important evidence of spiritual growth isn’t always found in what other people say about us. Sometimes it’s revealed in how we respond when nobody is watching.

Sis, God sees what’s being formed in secret.

He knows the prayers you’ve prayed.

He knows the areas where you’re struggling.

He knows the effort you’re making to respond differently.

And He knows the work that still needs to be done.

Don’t become discouraged simply because your progress hasn’t received recognition.

Keep growing. Keep learning. Keep allowing God to work within you.

Because just because your growth isn’t visible to everybody doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful.

Journal Prompt

What Is God Developing Within Me?

Take a few moments today to reflect on the growth that may not be obvious to others.

1. What is one area of my life where I’ve been making progress that other people may not recognize?

Think about your thoughts, attitudes, habits, relationships, or spiritual discipline.

2. Have I been allowing the lack of visible results or recognition to make me question whether I’m growing?

3. What is one old pattern that I’m learning to respond to differently?

4. Am I genuinely taking steps toward change, or have I been using the idea of being a work in progress to avoid addressing something that needs attention?

Today’s Declaration:

“Lord, thank You for seeing the growth that others may not recognize. Help me remain patient with the process, honest about where I need to change, and faithful in allowing Your Word to shape my life.”

Today’s Challenge

Recognize Your Quiet Growth

Today, we’re going to celebrate meaningful progress without making recognition our motivation.

Step 1 — Look Back

Think about who you were at the beginning of Challenge139.

Write down one way your thinking, attitude, or behavior has changed.

Step 2 — Recognize the Unseen

Identify something you’ve been working on privately that represents meaningful growth.

It may be a habit, a boundary, a spiritual discipline, or a healthier way of responding to difficult situations.

Step 3 — Take One Intentional Step

Choose one practical action that supports the growth you’re pursuing.

Remember, meaningful change is often strengthened through consistent decisions.

Step 4 — Thank God for the Process

Before the day ends, thank God for what He’s already helped you recognize and ask Him to continue His work within you.

Today’s reminder: You don’t need an audience for your growth to matter.

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank You for being the God who knows me completely, even in the places and moments nobody else can see. Thank You for the wonderful way You formed me and for the work You continue doing within my heart. Forgive me for the times I’ve become discouraged because my progress hasn’t been recognized or because change hasn’t happened as quickly as I wanted. Sometimes I become so focused on what I haven’t accomplished that I overlook the ways You’ve been helping me grow. Lord, search my heart and reveal the areas where I need to become more patient, more disciplined, more compassionate, and more obedient to Your Word. Help me recognize meaningful progress without becoming prideful, and acknowledge my weaknesses without becoming discouraged. Give me the humility to accept correction, the courage to address unhealthy patterns, and the consistency to continue making wise decisions even when nobody is watching. Thank You for the assurance that You are faithful to complete the good work You have begun in Your people. As I continue this Challenge139 journey, help me remain committed to becoming more like Christ. May my growth be genuine, my faith become stronger, and my life increasingly reflect Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sis, Remember This…

Just because your progress isn’t being noticed doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful. Some of the most important growth in your life happens when nobody else is watching.

Sis, don’t become so focused on showing everybody how much you’ve grown that you forget to keep allowing God to work on the parts of you nobody sees. 💗