We have a natural human response to want to explain ourselves, to rationalize, to defend our choices or our motives. This happens especially in situations where we feel we have been wronged or wrongly accused, mischaracterized or disrespected. We can waste so much valuable energy trying to maintain control over situations, things and people. If we divert this fearful, defensive energy and return our focus back to God, our trust will become the catalyst for our freedom and our peace.
The Spirit of truth will testify just as it validated the truth of Jesus. The Holy Spirit works in us and through us and in all situations to restore clarity, harmony and divine right order.
Invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, into your thoughts, into your life, into your relationships, into your workplace, into your communication, into all your circumstances, and watch the transformation.
No Longer Slaves by https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k?si=Ha3ir5RzwPh7i0Hl
Kristin thank you for the reminder of the Holy Spirit. This is a hard one for me. As a child my dad was very strong into a Charismatic movement and said you had to be baptized in the Holy Spirit to receive him. Later in life he admitted that was a phase and that it was not necessary but as child when you're told things like that it"s so very hard to get out of your head. This reminds of that line I love so very much in the movie "Hope Floats" and yes I do like those romantic movies once in a while :), at the end the character states something the effect that "her mother said, childhood is the best time of your life. But she thinks her dad was right, childhood is what you spend the rest of your life getting over. lol :{ hmmmm Blessings to all the LFF and special prayers for those needing an extra hand these days. May we all spread the love and word of God through the Holy Spirit each and everyday.
Wonderful devotion, Kristen. I have often thought if I spent the same amount of time trusting God as I did worrying, my problems could have already been resolved. Yes, Holy Spirit guide my thoughts, words and actions. A beautiful day and continued prayers for all!
For many years the Holy Spirit was a distant third in my understanding of the Trinity. Once I asked to be filled by the Holy Spirit my life began to change. Sadly, I did not invite him to fill me with his fruits until after some very catastrophic events. That being said the importance of the Holy Spirit is greater than ever. I begin my prayers as found in Romans 8:26 Dear Holy Spirit. I come to you with a humble heart and ask you to intercede on my behalf with God with groanings and words beyond my comprehension regarding (my personal request) I ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who reigns forever and ever. Amen
Rusty, your sharing reminds me of 1 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father Who gives tender love. All comfort comes from Him. He comforts us in all our troubles. Now we can comfort others when they are in trouble. We ourselves receive comfort from God!”
Rusty thanks for that prayer, I like it and will be using it.
Thank you Kristin for the beautiful reminder. How quick I am to defend and explain. May I invoke the Holy Spirit today to engage in a more balanced way. Continuing to send prayers to all those entering the last month of their studies, that they may find the strength to finish strong. Continuing to lift Karen in her treatments and as she gets the information from her latest scan. Amen.
Jane, I too ask the Holy Spirit for a more balanced way of thinking, acting, working, praying. Thank you for bringing that up in your message. Continuing to pray for Analiese and all the students who are working hard to finish up on top at the end of this school year. Praying for good results from Karen’s scan. May Our Lord give her strength and His tender Love so she can feel it deep in her heart.
Lord please hear our prayers and bring your light to all those experiencing natural disasters, Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, the Sudan, and all those suffering around the world - also for their strength, courage and resilience to continue walking in faith. Send them your light. Father in Heaven, have mercy on us and on the whole world! You sent Your Son, the Prince of Peace, for the salvation of the world. We pray that the Peace of Christ will reign in Haiti, the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan. Please protect and send aid to those in need and all who are at-risk. We pray for peace and rebuilding– we who are working towards it and for all those who are suffering or in danger from conflicts. We pray for an end to violence and war – we pray for wisdom for all leaders who have a hand in this. Lord God please help those in most need of thy mercy. Amen.
Thank you Kristin it's not easy to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives. Living faith family you have often seen that I recommended the phase "Holy Spirit guide my mind Holy Spirit control my thoughts " great to hear from you Vincent. Please Continue to pray for the souls in purgatory and those souls who have no one to pray for them. And me for surgery this morning. Ken
Ken...May the light that you give to soooooooo many people, be the light you see and feel today! Gotcha tucked tight in my prayers every day ~ a lot tighter today! God Bless You And All Who Love And Will Care For You Today!
Adding my prayers for a successful surgery, Ken.
Ken, sending prayers for a successful surgery. May the Lord Bless you.
Prayers for your surgery today Ken. May the God guide all that are a part of your surgery today for a safe surgery.
Praying for you and your surgeon that everything goes as planned. Asking God for a renewal of your sight to brightness and clarity.
Ken, I offer my prayers for a successful surgery and look forward to hearing positive results.
Praying for you, Ken, and your surgical team this morning for a successful eye surgery and recovery ✝️ in Proverbs 20:12, “Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord!” Amen!!!
Praying for you today, Ken and for a successful outcome with your surgery. Thank you for reminding us to pray for the souls in purgatory and ask Our Lord Jesus to welcome them into the fullness of His kingdom. Prayers for the lonely and suffering in our world. You are not forgotten.
May the Lord calm your heart as you have a successful surgery today!
Prayers for successful surgery today. May you share the love of Jesus with everyone you meet through your smile and kind words.
Ken, we are all praying for you this a.m. and look forward to hearing from you later. Yes, I love the prayer invoking the Holy Spirit to provide self-editing in challenging situations! I must adopt this. God Bless you and your surgeon today! Amen.
Let truth be told, we are all sinners that need God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Amen, Mark. Thank you
It is even more challenging when you try to justify wrong actions of which you have been justly accused, as I have done in my life! I thank God, the ultimate and only true judge, that I am more and more facing up to my wrongdoing
Vincent God is the true judge to our characters. Repenting our past sins and moving forward to live a more faith based God filled life without sin is what I understand he asks of us. We must try (easier said than done) to not let guilt guide our futures. Prayers for you Vincent and may God and the Holy Spirit guide you each and everyday.
You are correct, Vincent! Only God is the true judge of all of us. He knows us inside and out. You are loved and cherished by Him. So good to hear from you today!
May the Lord grant you strength!
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The person of the Holy Spirit was quiet and confusing for me for many years as was the person of God the Father!!! Jesus, the person of Son of God, on the other hand became human and His Words were written down by many witnesses!!! *** Holy Spirit was given to me at the moment when I believed in Jesus as my Savior - Baptism of the Holy Spirit (the indwelling Holy Spirit!) Ephesians 1:13-14a, "You also became believers in Christ. That happened when you heard the message of Truth. It was the Good News about how you could be saved. When you believed, He (Jesus) stamped you with an official mark. That official mark is the Holy Spirit that He promised. The Spirit marks us as God’s own. We can now be sure that someday we will receive all that God has promised!" *** The Holy Spirit in me represents Jesus in John 14:26, "But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you!" *** Then the daily filling of the Holy Spirit in me is to conquere sin and follow Jesus is a conitnous process on this side of heaven in Romans 8:9-11, "But you are not ruled by the power of sin. Instead, the Holy Spirit rules over you. This is true if the Spirit of God lives in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. If Christ lives in you, you will live. Though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life. The Spirit does this because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of the God Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you. So the God Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your bodies. He will do this because of His Spirit Who lives in you!" ******* My daily filling of the Holy Spirit looks like this in Romans 8:12-17, "Brothers and sisters, we have a duty. Our duty is not to live under the power of sin. If you live under the power of sin, you will die. But by the Spirit’s power you can put to death the sins you commit. Then you will live. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. The Spirit you received doesn’t make you slaves. Otherwise you would live in fear again. Instead, the Holy Spirit you received made you God’s adopted child. By the Spirit’s power we call God Abba. Abba means Father. The Spirit Himself joins with our spirits. Together they tell us that we are God’s children. As His children, we will receive all that He has for us. We will share what Christ receives. But we must share in His sufferings (receive the free gift of Salvation) if we want to share in His glory!" Amen!!!