12. The Spirit of Love

Tuesday 27th Feb 

(for more details see here)

 

Pause:

Dear God, everywhere I walk, let it be on Your path.
Everything I see, let it be through Your eyes.
Everything I do, let it be Your will.

For every hardship I face, let me place it in Your hands.
Every emotion I feel, let it be Your Spirit moving in me.
Everything I seek, let me find it in Your love.

My dear God, I thank You for this day. I ask not to know where I am going.
But only to know and feel in the depths of my heart and soul that You are with me,
that You are guiding me,
that I am safe in the protection of Your loving care.

In Jesus’ name, I offer myself to You.
Amen.

MORGAN WOOD (Abide.com)

 

Today's reading: John 14.15-23

Dear child, as you enter deeper into this upper room intimacy, there will be thoughts that haunt your mind like an unwanted guest at this table.

• "I can't do this."
• "This is impossible for me..."
• "Others seem to step into this, there must be something wrong with me..."

The enemy will work hard to bring up your past, making you feel weak and worthless - and to feel silly for believing the kind of life that Jesus is describing could be yours:

• "I've tried so hard in the past..."
• "I've made so many mistakes..."
• "I just feel so powerless to change..."

This is perfectly normal.

Never forget you are engaged in serious spiritual warfare - and the battle is fierce. You fight against the world, the flesh and the devil - and there want to bring you to a place of disillusionment. They want you to give up.

Yes, the call is high. Loving one another as I have loved you is going to be costly, but there is also a freedom and peace there that you cannot know any other way.

But... you are not alone.

You are right to say that it is impossible - but let me finish that sentence for you: it is impossible... in your own strength.
You are that you can't do this - but let me add some words to the end: You can't do this... on your own.

That's why whenever I talk about the transformation of your inner self, I always share with you about the Holy Spirit. Whenever you are discouraged by what you can't do - remember what He can do! And never forget, He is not just with you... He is in you! (JOHN 14. 17). A truth so transforming, I left this earth to send Him to you! (JOHN 16. 7)

So let me breath on you afresh.
Receive the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with His life.
Be clothed in His strength.

You are not alone.
You are filled with the Spirit of Him to whom all things are possible. 
 

Reflection: 

“The great challenge of life is managing that unceasing flow of thoughts, and feelings, and desires, and intentions that are always going on inside me.
And if I try to follow Jesus behaviourally (by doing the right things and avoiding the wrong things) without changing that inner flow within me - that’s the hard way.
The easy yoke is to aim at the transformation of that inner flow; the renewing of my mind."

JOHN ORTBERG (Home - become.new)

We often opt for more of an "outside-in" approach to change - modifying our behaviour until we hope one day that inner flow will catch on and catch up. You often hear this expressed as "fake-it-till-you-make-it." But this is a crushingly painful way to live. 

Jesus' teaching always aims first at our hearts, where the Holy Spirit can produce that "inside-out" transformation that is far more real and healing and lasting and joyful. We can often imagine that being filled with the Spirit of God is another rung on the ladder - something else to strive for, work at, chase hard for... but Jesus describes simply as receiving a good gift from the Father who really loves us. 

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!

LUKE 11. 13
 

Question for today:

• Am I asking for more of the Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

"A breath prayer is a simple, short prayer said in a single breath.
It’s very helpful in times of busyness and stress as it can be prayed while working or during a short break.
You pray the first line slowly breathing in... (pause briefly to hold your breath)
and the second line slowly breathing out... (allowing your whole body to relax)

Lord God, fill me with your Holy Spirit.

I receive Your love,
and release my insecurity

I receive Your joy,
and release my unhappiness

I receive Your peace,
and release my anxiety

I receive Your patience,
and release my impulsiveness

I receive Your kindness,
and release my indifference

I receive Your goodness,
and release my ungodliness

I receive Your faithfulness,
and release my disloyalty

I receive Your gentleness,
and release my severity

I receive Your self-control,
and release my self-indulgence.

 

 I prayed this.

My prayer for today: (if you would like to, please feel free to add your own prayer here):

 

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If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him