It Only Takes A Spark
Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit's presence so profoundly in your life that you sensed Him with every fiber of your being? One of the first times I experienced the Holy Spirit's power this intensely was one summer at my church youth camp around the bonfire. With each spark of the fire, each prayer lifted, and each song of praise, I felt the Holy Spirit filling me. Somewhere along the way, I put that relationship in a box, labeling it as just an emotional response. That was until the spark was reignited…
I get so excited when I think about the Holy Spirit. As I reflect, it feels like discovering a new relationship with a lifelong friend. Growing up in church, I knew about the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). I knew that the Holy Spirit was present at creation (Genesis 1:2) and that the Holy Spirit produces fruit in believers (Galatians 5:22-23). I knew of the Holy Spirit, but sadly, I didn't truly know the person of the Holy Spirit.
A few years back, a spark of curiosity ignited within me as I pondered the profound teachings about the Holy Spirit in the Bible. I knew that God was my Father and I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, but I wanted to know more about the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 (NIV) says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever." This promise became profoundly real in my life. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I discovered a constant companion, promising I would never walk alone on this journey of life.
Psalm 143:10 (NIV) further illuminated the role of the Holy Spirit: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Romans 8:26 echoed this sentiment, affirming, "In the same way, the 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."
These verses ignited a fire within me that burns brighter with each passing day. The Holy Spirit's guidance and intercession have become a beacon of hope and strength in my life. It's a flame I'm compelled to share with others, for the presence of the Holy Spirit is a gift meant to be shared, illuminating our paths and enriching our souls.
Recently, Pastor Aaron said something that has resonated with me: "The Holy Spirit is not here (at church) when you are not here. You bring Him with you." It is my prayer that you are so excited about what the Lord has done in your life that it ignites a spark of curiosity and love for the Lord in others every place that you go.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Lord, I pray that we embrace Him as our constant companion and our guide. If we have labeled Him as an emotional response, help us to open that box and invite the Holy Spirit to do all that you have intended for Him to do in our lives. Lord, we thank You for the spark and pray that we light the flame and burn for You while illuminating Your love to others. Amen!
I get so excited when I think about the Holy Spirit. As I reflect, it feels like discovering a new relationship with a lifelong friend. Growing up in church, I knew about the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). I knew that the Holy Spirit was present at creation (Genesis 1:2) and that the Holy Spirit produces fruit in believers (Galatians 5:22-23). I knew of the Holy Spirit, but sadly, I didn't truly know the person of the Holy Spirit.
A few years back, a spark of curiosity ignited within me as I pondered the profound teachings about the Holy Spirit in the Bible. I knew that God was my Father and I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, but I wanted to know more about the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:16 (NIV) says, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever." This promise became profoundly real in my life. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I discovered a constant companion, promising I would never walk alone on this journey of life.
Psalm 143:10 (NIV) further illuminated the role of the Holy Spirit: "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Romans 8:26 echoed this sentiment, affirming, "In the same way, the 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."
These verses ignited a fire within me that burns brighter with each passing day. The Holy Spirit's guidance and intercession have become a beacon of hope and strength in my life. It's a flame I'm compelled to share with others, for the presence of the Holy Spirit is a gift meant to be shared, illuminating our paths and enriching our souls.
Recently, Pastor Aaron said something that has resonated with me: "The Holy Spirit is not here (at church) when you are not here. You bring Him with you." It is my prayer that you are so excited about what the Lord has done in your life that it ignites a spark of curiosity and love for the Lord in others every place that you go.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Lord, I pray that we embrace Him as our constant companion and our guide. If we have labeled Him as an emotional response, help us to open that box and invite the Holy Spirit to do all that you have intended for Him to do in our lives. Lord, we thank You for the spark and pray that we light the flame and burn for You while illuminating Your love to others. Amen!
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3 Comments
Praise GOD for these devotions every day. Especially this one.
This is so well said Ashley! Many times as believers, we choose to "Snuff Out" the constant flame of the Holy Spirit by not feeding it with the necessary fuel of the Word. I have always said that you are being fed by 1 of 2 things for your spiritual needs.....The World or The Word! Just as we intentionally feed our physical bodies when it yearns for nutrients, our spiritual body has to be intentionally fed as well. So, where have you been eating? Feeding the spiritual body with The Word, gives the Holy Spirit the fuel it needs to continue to manifest itself within us, making us more into His image daily. Keep the fire burning and give the Holy Spirit free rein to move as He desires is one of the greatest things in our lives. God Bless and thank you so much for being transparent and vulnerable in your post!
So good! I love your honesty Ashley! I don't often think to ask Holy Spirit to speak to me unless I AM in church. This is great reminder that it's always with me. I don't have to wait for a certain time to ask him to speak or expect to hear from him. It can be anytime, anywhere.