The Holy Spirit living in you and me

One of the most amazing truths of the Christian life is that God calls us to be a part of what He is doing! There are days that what we are called to do feels mundane, but even so, we are still a part of what He is doing. Other times though, we have the opportunity to be a part of something really big. God is doing that right now in my life! A ministry that I work with is embarking on a really amazing opportunity to do something that really hasn’t been done before. It is a big, exciting opportunity. If I think about it in human terms, it is completely overwhelming. But, when I focus on what God will do through it, I have an unbridled excitement. Needless to say, the enemy will do all he can to try to thwart this plan. When I start to focus on that, I am quickly overwhelmed. Then the Holy Spirit puts Romans 8:11 on my heart. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. Whoa! There is no better encouragement when I am faced with a difficult task than to remember that the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave, lives in me. The Holy Spirit gives us power to speak truth, to discern truth from scripture, and to recognize truth (and false teaching) from those who teach.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just help us to do the really big things though, like fundraise for the Kingdom, or speak to large groups of people. The Holy Spirit is present in all parts of the life of a Believer.

For the past few months, I have been focused on asking the Holy to speak through me in my daily conversations. I have also asked Him to let me hear others speak through His filter. He has helped me to see the person’s heart in their words. This helps keep me focused on what the Lord is doing, not the situation. This also keeps my reaction and response in line with the Kingdom, instead of my own personal feelings. I also pray that the person I am talking to would be discerning of the Spirit as he or she listens. This allows that person to see my heart and to better understand what I am sharing with them. It also allows for the Lord to grow that relationship, whether it is a relationship in a ministry, a client, a family member, or a friend, in a way that glorifies Him. When I ask the Holy Spirit to let others hear my heart for the Lord it takes away any worry about using the right words and it also usually makes me choose words that are kind and filled with grace.

The Holy Spirit is also the one who helps us to understand scripture. I ask that He would teach me what He would have me learn in that moment. I ask that my heart would be open to what the Lord has to say. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my conversation with my prayer group and my Bible study ladies. I ask that He would hold my tongue when it needs to be held, and that I would not be afraid to speak when I need to share the truth.

I want to encourage you to dedicate some time each day to listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Read scriptures on the power of the Spirit and then ask the Lord to make that power evident in your life. Then get ready for an amazing ride!