Tuesday, March 27, 2012

March 26, 2012

I feel a compelling need to talk about the Holy Spirit today.  As I watched a young mother laid to rest, I realized that women need the power of the Holy Spirit.  We need to understand it and call on it.  We are in a spiritual battle and without Christ we can't win but if we prepare and understand the tools He gives to us, we will win over the enemy, forever.  So let's look into the Holy Spirit. What is it and why did God give it to us?  I am sure You have felt it from time to time.  Like when your friend is sharing a great story about what God has done for someone or maybe, when you have quoted Scripture into someone's life.  The Holy Spirit was given to us after Jesus's resurrection.  He wanted to give us a part of Himself so that we would have a guide, while He was in Heaven.  God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one.  This can be confusing to a new Christian because people assume that Christians believe in 3 Gods, not one.  However, there is no question that they are one.  It is through divine reckoning that we have Christ and through the Holy Spirit we can be guided by Him.

The Holy Spirit is our guide and it's where our peace resides.  Whenever we feel confused or chaotic, more than likely we have not taken the time to pray for peace.  We are so full of sin that we love to do everything in our own strength.  There are whole cultures that believe in depending on oneself, rather than depending on others.  This is a false doctrine.  We are to depend on Christ always and if He surrounds us with good people, we are to depend upon them for wisdom and prayer.

Our society teaches us to be independent individuals, which directly goes against Scripture.  We are individuals with our own personalities and gifts but we are part of a body and a Great Commission, which takes every man, woman and child to fulfill.   If that is the case, then it's vital that we spend time walking and talking with God.  Putting Him first in our lives and making sure that we are standing still long enough for the Holy Spirit to guide us is essential to our commission.  If you just take a moment and think about your routine in the morning, more than likely you shower, dry your hair, figure out what to wear for the day, grab a cup of coffee, and out the door you go.  It's not surprising since we are a culture on the move from the time we get up to the time we go to bed.  So, if we aren't standing still, how in the world will Jesus speak to us?  To put it into perspective, I was watching a basketball game with my husband and the Hulu commercial came on.  Every time I think of it, I become nervous because it reminds me that even television can be a great distraction from our time with God.  When we do sit, what do we do with our time?  Most people sit and watch television, it's a great way to numb ourselves from every day life but it's detrimental to the fabric of the family and for each one of us.

If our brains are focused on everything but Him, what chance do we have to really minister to others, let alone being still long enough to hear from God for ourselves?  It is vital that we let Christ in daily and ask Him to reveal Himself through the Holy Spirit.  Some of the most beautiful moments I've had with Christ was asking Him to talk to me through the Holy Spirit.  I have gotten into Scripture and found exactly the right passage for me.  He has taken me out of my depression and brought joy back to my life through the Holy Spirit and He has ministered and healed others through the Holy Spirit too.

There is wonder and awe in the Holy Spirit.  Many churches are talking less about it.  And of course, you have those churches that only talk about it.  I think there has to be a balance of messages but I want all of us to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit.  It was given to us after the resurrection of Jesus.  He wanted us to have a part of Him and we need to call upon it when necessary.  Don't be scared, be amazed that our God thought enough of us to give Himself to us and for us.

I don't want to go to another funeral where there is no hope.  Our hope, no matter how dire our circumstances, is in our Creator.  If you haven't asked Jesus into your life, today is the day.  Our days are numbered and our time on earth is short, but our time in Heaven is for eternity.  He is with you today and He wants all of us to know how much He loves us.  Call out to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help you, to heal you, to love you.  Jesus is but a call away.

Don't forget to reach out to your friends too.  More than likely the Holy Spirit has already informed your friends to lift you up in prayer.  Prayer partners are powerful and they are part of His plan.  Ask them to pray for you.  It's so important we unite and we already have the most powerful tool on earth, Jesus Christ!

John 20:21-23  NKJV:

     So Jesus said to them again "Peace to you!  So the Father has sent Me, I also send you."  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."


My prayer today:

Oh Lord, reveal yourself through the Holy Spirit.  I ask today to lift up those that are struggling with depression, grief, hurt and pain.  I ask You to guide Your army in prayer for the lost, the hungry and the sick.  Please help us understand the Holy Spirit better and give us the ability to call on it when needed.  Humble our hearts and help us not to lean on ourselves but build us up so that we can call on You.  You are everything to us and we recognize that we are too busy to stand still.  Give us time in our daily lives to listen to You and to be with You.  We need You to come into our lives, to be a part of our routine and to be with us in the good and bad times.  Help us to realize that without You there is nothing but with You, we have hope, not just in today but for eternity.  Thank you for sacrificing Yourself and for providing a counselor, through the Holy Spirit.  We need to be guided daily by You.  Please help the lost find You and guide us to those that need You the most.  Give us strength to conquer our sins and Lord forgive us when we don't make time for You.  I thank You for being with us always and for loving Your chosen people.  AMEN

Until tomorrow...

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