July 26, 2026
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a huge gift. Jesus knew, when He returned to Heaven, His followers would feel alone and abandoned. So He sent the Holy Spirit, the third personage of God. Ever present, He lives within us. In John 14:25-27, we read:
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The joy of this Helper is mine. And yours. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit humbles us, igniting faith and speaking wisdom. We learn, through trust and persistence, to know the voice and promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is the sweet sense of peace given during moments of worry and fear. It is the revelation when we finally hear and get God’s meaning when reading the Word. It is the quiet prompting to reach out to someone with a word of hope or wisdom that they later say answered their prayers. To listen and to obey this prompting is to be in tune with God’s whisper into our lives.
God wants us to walk and talk and be relational with Him. He is a true Father. The more time we spend with God, the more we need Him. Like all relationships, this requires our consistency and devotion.
Once we surrender ego and willfulness, once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and we simply bask in God’s grace and love, we begin to change. We love others sincerely. We rejoice in other people’s victories and blessings. We grow in love and compassion
It is a choice to move more and more into the spirit realm. Yes, we’re allowed to live totally in the world before we know God, before we surrender. But that is and has always been the path to eternal death. Surrender to life. To grace and kindness. Accept God’s peace where joy and laughter bubble up and surprise us. Live as much like Jesus as possible. Prefer, forgive, love and protect others.
Spiritual gifts unite the Body of Christ. They enable a smooth running, organized, top of the line performance for all Christians who participate. Each gift is vital. Each gift has value to achieve unity. Seek the Fruits of the Spirit!
Dear Lord, I often wish I had lived at the time Jesus walked on this earth. I understand I am human and I might have failed Jesus as so many people did. I just feel like I would have know who He was. I cannot imagine I would have cried, “Crucify Him!” It is easy with our many Bibles, our freedom to attend church, and the thousands of teaching books and novels available to us, to believe in the Risen Christ. But oh, Lord God, to have looked into His eyes, to have known beyond any doubt that He was Your Son, to have experienced that recognition from soul to soul, such incredible joy. Thank You Lord for the Holy Spirit, the indwelling Presence that leads us closer and closer to You.
Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11