In the early stages of my "Christian life", the topic of the holy spirit was mildly understood. I knew I had accepted the Lord at camp that summers day in seventh grade, but I had no idea the the power and need for the Holy Spirit on my spiritual journey. I did not realize that it is the Holy Spirit that would lead me in my times of reading scripture, prayer, and just seeking to know Jesus more. It is through the sending of the Holy Spirit that I can develop a relationship with Christ,which ultimately leads me to experiencing the fullness of God.
I don't believe that faith should just be about emotion. Even when we feel distant from God, he is just as much there as when we are on a spiritual high in our faith life. However, I can clearly identify several times in my life, that I truly feel that I was prompted by the holy spirit. Sometimes I answered this calling...and other times I denied or came up with excuses for God as to why I really shouldn't follow through. Needless to say, when I have followed through with this prompting of the holy spirit, I am not sure how the Lord used it, but I know through Faith I can believe that he was at work.
The other night, I had an experience that felt like it the hand prints of God written all over it. I had a random dream that I was in a field with tall grass, sitting on a log. Out of nowhere, the Lord spoke to me in the dream and told me to read 1st Thessalonians. All of a sudden a bible appeared in my hands and I instantly began reading. Then, I woke up. Now, I don't normally remember my dreams. It is a rare occurrence when this happens. Also, I have no idea where 1st Thessalonians came from...I don't remember this book of the bible coming up in the last few weeks. So anyway...as soon as I got up I grabbed my Bible and began reading. The verse below was the passage that really stood out to me (through the holy spirit I assume). Funny thing...later that afternoon I was cleaning my room and downloaded an old sermon from my church, picking from a whole list of options. Right in the middle of the sermon....plopped the verse below from 1st Thessalonians. I think my jaw hit the floor. Are you trying to tell me something Lord?
Anyway....I was challenge that it is the Holy Spirit in me, that will sow the seeds for the fruits of the spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, & Self-Control). I really hope that God displays these fruits of the spirit through my character. For my own strength cannot produce this fruit, it has to come out of the fertile soil of Christ. As I seek out the Lord's will...I am challenged to find full contentment in Christ first....give Thanks to Him...and the rest will fall into place.
I am an adventurer at heart. So, I intentionally seeking out the thrill of something new. But what does it really mean to live intentionally for Christ each day? How can I continue to intentionally seek out spiritual growth, more than I do other adventures? I pray that I can continually seek to be intentional about seeking out God in the little things of my day--from the tickle of the sunshine on my forehead to the the crunch of green grass beneath my toes. He has made all things to bring us joy daily. I hope to intentionally be joyful always and celebrate the hand prints of God in each day.
1st Thessalonians 5:14-24
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51: 10-12
"The best things are nearest, breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you."
Robert Louis Stevenson
Loving this song this week:)
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