Category: finding peace

The Missing Ingredient

On one occasion, while [Jesus] was eating with [the disciples], he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
— Acts 1:4-5 NIV

Jesus’ closest followers had seen him betrayed, crucified, and raised from the dead. They had been with the Lord after his resurrection — they had touched his scars, shared meals with him, and heard his voice. They had an incredible story to tell, and the world desperately needed to hear their message. However, they lacked one crucial ingredient to begin their mission: They did not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus told them to wait! In spite of the urgency of the disciples’ mission, everything was on hold until Jesus poured out the promised Holy Spirit. No matter how well we think we may be ready to do great things for God, we must also remember that we are not ready to begin without the power of the Holy Spirit!

Almighty God, thank you for being willing to share yourself and your power with me through the Holy Spirit. Forgive me when I try to operate by my own timing, my own sense of sufficiency, and my own wisdom and plans. I recognize my deep need for the Holy Spirit to move in me, to empower me, and to equip me for your work in the world. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Avoid Corruption

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. — 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NLT

Scripture calls us to two powerful principles through this passage. First, the message given to us by the apostles is not man’s opinion, but God’s truth — we must not ignore it! Second, God gives the Holy Spirit to Christians, not just a one-time or temporary gift of the Spirit but an ongoing and indwelling gift of the Spirit. Jesus promised something very similar during his ministry (John 7:37-39, as seen in tomorrow’s scripture). In other words, we cannot use up our supply of the Holy Spirit; the more we rely on and need the Holy Spirit, the more God gives us the Spirit. It’s impossible to do better than a never-ending supply of what we need to live for God!

O Father, Sovereign Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you even more for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit into my life as I need and rely on the Spirit to sustain, empower, and transform me to be more and more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Empowered to live holy lives…

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NLT

Scripture calls us to two powerful principles through this passage. First, the message given to us by the apostles is not man’s opinion, but God’s truth — we must not ignore it! Second, God gives the Holy Spirit to Christians, not just a one-time or temporary gift of the Spirit but an ongoing and indwelling gift of the Spirit. Jesus promised something very similar during his ministry (John 7:37-39, as seen in tomorrow’s scripture). In other words, we cannot use up our supply of the Holy Spirit; the more we rely on and need the Holy Spirit, the more God gives us the Spirit. It’s impossible to do better than a never-ending supply of what we need to live for God!

O Father, Sovereign Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. Thank you even more for the continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit into my life as I need and rely on the Spirit to sustain, empower, and transform me to be more and more like Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

From Nothing… EVERYTHING!

The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
— Genesis 1:2 NLT

In the very first chapter of the Bible, we are taken to the formless emptiness before time began. We find the Spirit of God hovering over this formless and empty darkness, characterized as “the surface of the waters,” waiting for God to speak his creative word. God’s formative word set the power of the Spirit into creative work, ordering and making our universe and our world within it. However, isn’t it so sadly ironic that in the emptiness of our lives we so seldom cry out to God and ask for his Holy Spirit to come into our lives and bring the LORD’s creative order? Let’s ask for God’s Spirit, hovering above our messes, to enter into our lives and lead us to where we need to be and to bring the Father the glory he deserves!

O Sovereign God, I confess that I cannot order and control my life. I surrender to your grace and ask for your Holy Spirit to enter my world and bring your gracious and creative order and form your holy character and compassion in me. In the name of your Son and my Savior, I pray. Amen.

When we are at a loss for words…

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
— Romans 8:26-27 NIV

How do we ask for the Holy Spirit? How do we pray when we don’t know what to say? In these verses, Paul tells the followers of Jesus in Rome that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, even to the point of articulating to God what we can’t put into words! Not only that, but when we point our hearts and requests and thanksgivings to God, the Holy Spirit cleans up our prayers and conforms them to the will of God! Even in asking for the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives, he goes to work for us in and through our prayers!

Precious God, Almighty Father, words cannot express the depth of my appreciation for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Even when I don’t know how to pray or what to say, I know the Spirit is there with me, sharing my heart with you in ways that are pleasing to you! Thank you for this grace and the gift that makes it possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Turn Loose God’s Power

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. — Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

One of the best gifts we can give those we love is to pray for them. One of the most important prayers we can pray for other believers is the one Paul prays here. We can pray for those we love to be strengthened by God’s Spirit! Not only can we pray this prayer for them, but we can also let them know that we are praying this prayer for them. Why not copy Paul’s prayer and send it to a believing friend or family member and let them know that you have prayed this prayer for them today?

Father in heaven, I believe you are all powerful and that I cannot begin to understand your glory and might. I am humbled that you make that power available to me, and within me, through the Holy Spirit. Dear Father, there are those I love that I pray you will bless with your power. Please strengthen them with your power in their inner being. Please help them be aware of your presence in their lives through the Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

The Power to Change

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
— Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV

One of the best gifts we can give those we love is to pray for them. One of the most important prayers we can pray for other believers is the one Paul prays here. We can pray for those we love to be strengthened by God’s Spirit! Not only can we pray this prayer for them, but we can also let them know that we are praying this prayer for them. Why not copy Paul’s prayer and send it to a believing friend or family member and let them know that you have prayed this prayer for them today?

Father in heaven, I believe you are all powerful and that I cannot begin to understand your glory and might. I am humbled that you make that power available to me, and within me, through the Holy Spirit. Dear Father, there are those I love that I pray you will bless with your power. Please strengthen them with your power in their inner being. Please help them be aware of your presence in their lives through the Holy Spirit. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A New Year’s Prayer

Lord, You make all things new and you bring hope alive in my heart. You make the Spirit in me to be born again fresh and new each day. Thank you for this new year and for all of the potential it holds. Come and kindle in us the mighty flame of your Holy Spirit so others can see the glow of your presence in me. May my journey in this life lead others to find salvation in Jesus and hope eternal.
In the name of Jesus, Amen

Encouragement…

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

Wouldn’t this description of Philemon be a great one to have said about you! To be loved, supported, and encouraged by an encourager is to have your heart refreshed and your attitude lifted. It is so easy to get caught up in negative thinking and speech. We are bombarded daily with bad news and hateful speech. Let’s make a commitment to be an “encourager” who refreshes the hearts of those around us this week.

Tender and loving God, thank you for leading the people into my life who have encouraged me when I most needed it. Please give me the eyes to see and the heart to serve those around me who desperately need my encouragement. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Actions speak louder than words.

Be careful not to do your “acts of righteousness” before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 
– Matthew 6:1 (NIV)

Why do we do the things we do? What is the motivation for our behavior? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of doing religious things so we will look good to others. This is true even when culture reacts negatively to our faith. Those around us who know about our faith and the Christians around us become the target of our behavior. While we do want to have the right kind of influence on everyone around us, we must never make our decisions about spiritual service on the basis of being seen by others to be honored because of it. Our goal must be to honor God and bless others!

Almighty God, please purify my heart of any false motivation and help me serve others based on their need and my desire to honor you in helping them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.