Reign on Me

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 

John 14:26 (NIV)

What is the most important thing about the Holy Spirit?

Power?
Tongues?
Gifts?

I think it is Fellowship. Communing with the Saints.

In my humble opinion, fellowship is the deepest work of God’s Spirit. It is the Spirit of God drawing all of us all of the time into a common life with one another.

The central work of God’s Spirit is that of creating community.

It is also the first thing that I run from when I am ‘out of sorts,’ falling into depression, separated from God because of my willful and stubborn heart.

At times, my life feels so disorganized. It seems as if everything around me is piling up. It’s not just the drawers that need reorganizing, the kitchen or my desk that needs cleaning, or the heap of stuff in the garage that needs sorting—it’s everything: my daily schedule crammed full of tasks, my house crying out for a major cleaning, my office with the overflowing in box and stack of items for filing— even my relationships are disorganized. I feel disjointed, out of control, out of touch, separated from God and those whom I love and fellowship with.

Abba, Father – bring order into my chaos. Help me sort through all the things around me.

Help me see what needs to be kept,
what needs to be thrown away,
and what needs to be changed. . . .

O Holy Spirit, even as I say this, I feel fear. I know that things need to change. I know, deep in my heart, that my life’s disorganization is symptomatic of a deeper disorganization.

I need your gentle breath to blow through my spiritual life. I need your strong wind to sort through the stacks of issues I don’t want to face. I need your quiet presence as I deal with the unspoken prayers, the unfulfilled desires, the unrecognized emotions I have hidden away.

Holy Spirit come now, in this moment, and in the recesses of my heart, begin the process of organization. Begin to sweep out the dark corners, sift through the crammed closets, and blow through all my dark places of my spirit. May You blow through my life every day. Through Your power, bring order into all the chaos around me. ~Amen.

because we’re His,

Today's Devotional

TODAY’S VERSE
“Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, ‘Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?’”
I Chronicles 17:16

TODAY’S THOUGHT
There is more to prayer than simply asking God for something. Think about it. In the last few times that you prayed have you asked God for something? It is not wrong to ask, but there is more to prayer than making requests. God desires a relationship with us. It is said of David that he was a man “after God’s own heart.” He had a relationship with God unlike any other. Today’s verse is proof. Notice what it says, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord.” Think about it. This was almighty Jehovah. Only the Priests were allowed into the Holy Place before the Lord. They were to purify themselves, make a sacrifice, and go in and stand in reverence before the Lord of Hosts. Here is David. Does he purify himself? No, he had pure motives. Did he bring a sacrifice? No, he had a humble and contrite heart. Did he stand before the Lord? No, notice he, “went in and sat before the Lord!” How great is that? This is what Christ came for. His death was the payment for our sins so we could come before God and pray. But notice how David prayed. Did he ask for something? No, he started to relate to God. He shared his heart. He asked God a question. What a model for us to follow. You can come to God today and sit before Him. You can simply tell Him what is on your heart. Tell Him how you feel. Ask Him questions. Praise Him for His goodness in your life. Picture Him there with you and let Him penetrate your heart with His love. Then love Him back. Stop praying and start a relationship with God. When you do, praying will take on a whole new meaning.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I don’t want to simply pray. I confess most of the time I just ask for things - as if You are some Cosmic Santa Clause. I’m not sure how to relate to You. Please Father, today have Your Holy Spirit lead me in a conversation with You. Help me be honest with You and share how I am feeling. Then Father, help me to sense Your presence. Help me see You, hear you, feel You. More than anything else in the world, I want a relationship with You that is real and vibrant. Lord, let it start right now. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ. ~Amen!

~Tamara