Friendship with the Holy Spirit..Craig Denison Ministries

 Friendship with the Holy Spirit

Craig Denison Ministries

Weekly Overview:

As believers, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Teacher, Friend, and seal for the promised inheritance of eternal life with God. His presence, guidance, and wisdom in our lives are our greatest gifts while here on earth. Through him we have access to direct connection with our heavenly Father. Through him we receive spiritual gifts to empower us. And through him we are able to bear the incredible fruit of abundant life. Open your heart and mind to all that the Holy Spirit would give you, show you, and lead you to this week.

Scripture:“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14

Devotional:

In friendship with the Holy Spirit we begin to experience a sense of wholeness and joy unattainable through any other relationship or aspect of life. Rapid and wonderful transformation results when you discover the wealth of love that comes with continual, real friendship with the living God. In friendship with God comes peace, security, honesty, healing, and freedom. As you live your life in step with the Spirit, you experience what Adam and Eve experienced as they walked with God himself in the Garden of Eden. You discover the vast reservoir of love, affection, and perfect help that’s available to you in the Holy Spirit. Open your heart today to receive a fresh revelation of God’s desire for friendship with you through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says in John 15:15, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” God longs for friendship with his people. And through the Holy Spirit we have a continual connection with God available to us. The Spirit desires to do life with you. He wants to guide you, speak to you, and love you. He wants to satisfy your longing for relationship and can do so in greater ways than you can imagine.

John 14:16-17 says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” By God’s grace you have been filled with God himself. You have dwelling with you the same Spirit who authored Scripture, raised Christ from the dead, empowered the disciples, and hovered over the waters at the creation of all things. And Scripture says that he longs to help you! Jesus calls him the “Helper.” How incredible is the grace of our God to offer us relationship with the Holy Spirit! How great is his love that he would send his Son to die that we might have abundant life for all of eternity, including right now!

So, how do we grow in friendship with the Holy Spirit? How do we allow him to satisfy our desire for relationship? Psalm 25:14 says, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” And Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Friendship with the Holy Spirit starts like any other true friendship. We must respect, love, and make time for him. We must learn what he likes and dislikes. And we must apologize when we do something that hurts him. The Holy Spirit has feelings like any other person. But he is also full of grace, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Friendship with him comes about by following his leadership, making time to ask him how he feels about things, and following his guidance away from a lifestyle of sin into the righteousness available to you through Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is waiting right now to guide you into friendship with him. He’s excited about the idea of pouring out his love and affections on you. He longs to lead you away from the sins that hurt you and grieve him. And he longs to guide you toward a life of walking with him in relationship. Spend time in prayer being filled with the Holy Spirit afresh and making room to discover the reality of his presence in your life.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on God’s desire for friendship with you.

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” >John 15:15

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to pour his love out on you. Ask him to make the reality of his nearness known to you. Be filled with desire to live your life in relationship with this real, tangible God who loves you.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit what he likes and doesn’t like. Open your life and let him speak to you about whatever is causing you trouble. Ask him how he feels about relationships, situations, thoughts, and perspectives you have. The Spirit loves to speak to us and help us.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” >John 14:16-17

Often we separate out what we think God cares about and what just seems to be normal, worldly parts of life. But God wants to be involved in every part of our lives. He wants to be there for us in everything we do. He wants to fill us with grace and joy to do all the things set before us, from taking out the trash to washing dishes to leading thousands of people in prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to come in and work in every area of your life and discover the wealth of knowledge and love your God has to share with you.

Extended Reading: John 14

How To Find Significance (When You Feel Like You Have None)..AMY CARROLL

How To Find Significance (When You Feel Like You Have None)
AMY CARROLL 

“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b (NIV)

It was work that suited my family’s needs, but it wasn’t going anywhere. Many days I felt like my position was unimportant, not truly making a difference in the world.

Maybe you’ve been there too. Changing diapers seems like a meaningless, never-ending chore. Caring for your aging parent feels insignificant compared to the accomplishments of your friends. Volunteering behind the scenes appears unappreciated and unnoticed.

That feeling of insignificance was one of the reasons I never felt a connection to Esther. Esther was a girl in the Bible who became a queen, who saved her nation from annihilation. After all, who can attain that position or live up to that kind of story?

In a crucial moment of decision, Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, said to her the words perhaps most quoted from the book of Esther: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b). He was challenging Esther to do her job. To step into her assignment.

Mordecai’s words are favorites for decorating mugs and T-shirts — but when we apply them to ourselves, we might feel as though we need to be queens like Esther to be called by God. Was I made for such a time as this?

How our straying hearts long for the tiara that came with Esther’s position. In our fame-driven world, our hearts may cry out for significance and acclaim when we read these words … but to focus on how “regal” we do or don't feel is actually to misinterpret this verse.

Instead of pointing at the queen’s attributes, Esther 4:14 may be the clearest gesture toward God in the book of Esther, though His name is never mentioned there. Mordecai was not telling Esther that she was “the one.” That she was special. He was not telling her, “Now’s the time to unleash your hidden potential!” Instead, he was pointing Esther back to our sovereign God.

Even though Esther was queen, her place of usefulness in God’s Kingdom wasn't what she would have requested. It involved risking her very life. But the Creator who spoke the world into existence is the same One who created a queen from a humble girl. He alone positioned her in the palace where she could save her people. Neither she nor Mordecai could have foreseen this purpose, but God did.

The same God who created Esther, with her unique set of gifts, gave her a call to fulfill His redeeming plan. God gave Esther a unique usefulness, and He gives you the same thing.

Your unique usefulness may not be:

The job you’ve dreamed of …
The husband you’ve waited for …
The accomplishment with your name in the spotlight …
The baby you’ve longed to hold …

But it will be “immeasurably more than all [you] ask or imagine, according to his power” and for His glory (Ephesians 3:20, NIV). God's plan for you is not necessarily what you’ve pursued or desired, but like He did for Esther, God had good works in mind when He created you.

Occasionally, our unique usefulness involves a huge leap of faith like Esther’s, but often our unique usefulness, our “for such a time as this,” isn’t the big thing but rather the small, everyday task.

It’s taking a meal to a sick neighbor needing to feel God’s love.
It’s faithfully and thankfully doing an unseen job day after day.
It’s serving in the behind-the-scenes volunteer position in the community.
It’s advocating for the voiceless, talking one-on-one over coffee.

You and I, in all our God-given giftedness, are positioned for such a time as this. Our loving and sovereign God put us here. He bestows significance upon our unique usefulness, even when we don’t have the perk of sparkly tiaras on our heads.

Lord, thank You for giving me a unique usefulness. Help me embrace the joy of Your current assignment for me, even if it lacks human fanfare or renown. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How to Cry Out to God..Dr. Charles Stanley

 How to Cry Out to God

Dr. Charles Stanley

Matthew 14:29-30

The phone rings, and you answer. A sullen voice informs you of a tragedy. Your heart is so heavy that you feel as though you could die. What do you do?

Bad news, danger, and pain all cause us to look for help. As believers, we dwell with the almighty God, who is able to aid us. At those moments when we are sideswiped by life’s circumstances, we should cry out to Him.

In the Bible, crying out refers to speaking audibly with great emotion concerning an urgent need. God invites us to use this form of prayer to communicate that we desperately need His mercy.

It takes both faith and humility to share our heart’s concern aloud. Crying out, then, is a way for God’s children to express trust in the Lord’s ability and willingness to help. By calling upon Him with such urgency, we also lay down our pride and any attitude of self-sufficiency.

The Word of God assures us that our Father hears our cries and responds. In Psalm 3:4, for example, David wrote, “I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered from His holy mountain.” When we call aloud for help in Jesus’ name, we invite His power into the situation. Remember that there is strength in just speaking His name.

When we cry out to God, He may remove the problem immediately, yet we often have to wait for His perfect timing. Harsh circumstances might even be allowed to remain for His good purposes. But we can always count on His comfort and presence, which enable us to live with joy and hope.+

Could God Really Love Someone Like Me?..Chris Russell

 Could God Really Love Someone Like Me?

By Chris Russell

BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Could God Really Love Someone Like Me?
By Chris Russell

Today’s big question: “Is it possible that God could love someone like me?”

Love is one of God’s most central attributes. The Scriptures tell us that “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God’s love is clearly shown in His plan for our salvation, which was worked out through His only Son as a sacrifice for us. God’s Word comes from pure love and, in this sense, is a type of “love letter” toward us. The very act of revelation to us is an act of intimate love between the Creator and His creation. The Bible shows us clearly how we can have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ because of God’s love toward us (John 3:16).

When I was a younger Christian, I had a difficult time comprehending God’s love for me. I had knowledge of His love, but I didn’t really understand the depth of His love for me. That is, I did not fully grasp that love until December 22, 1993. That was the day that my first child was born. The day when I became a dad, I gained a whole new world of understanding about God’s love for me. I remember the flood of emotion that I felt when I saw my son for the first time. That was an overwhelming experience for me, and my heart overflowed with love for him.

I also remember the moment soon thereafter when it dawned on me: “Wow, you mean God loves me this much? I had no idea.” For the first point in my life, I began to get a glimpse of the depth of God’s love for me, and I found that to be truly astonishing.

That new sense of God’s love became a new motivation for my serving Him. You see, when you become aware of the depth of God’s love, it changes you. It changes the way you want to live your life, the reason why you want to live for Him, and the depth of your commitment toward Him.

Today’s big idea: as you become aware of the depth of God’s love for you, allow that realization to become the driving force in your obedience to Him.

What to pray: pray that God will help you to sense His love for you, and pray that He will help you to respond to His love with complete devotion to Him.

A Prayer against Selfish Gain..Victoria Riollano

 A Prayer against Selfish Gain

By Victoria Riollano

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” - Romans 8:14

“I won’t let anyone stop me from my goals!”

I will never forget the day I made this proclamation. Pregnant with my first child and in my junior year of college, I proclaimed with a righteous indignation that no one would stop me. And although many wanted me to quit college, I was offended at the thought.  After all, I was to be the first to graduate college in my family. I had a plan for my future carefully planned out. I couldn’t wait for the pride of walking down the aisle and feeling a sense of accomplishment. In my heart, I thought, “I will show them!” And with that heart, I continued my degree and even got my master’s degree while continuing to have more kids. I ended my college career with almost a 4.0. 

I was set to prove that by my own power, I could do anything. Yet, in doing so, my marriage suffered, my kids got very little attention, my time with the Lord was non-existent. Years later, I am convinced that my motive of wanting to prove everyone wrong and the pride of wanting to be the first, caused every area of my life to suffer. Instead of being led by God’s spirit, I was led by my desire to be seen. Getting the degree was less and less of my goal, and being seen was my focus. In many ways, I was living out the verse that says,

“For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” - James 3:16 NLT

And although there was nothing inherently wrong with pursuing my educational goals, my motive was reflective of selfish ambition and wanting to please my flesh. When we look to the Word, we find this struggle between pleasing ourselves and submitting to God’s will in various moments. Eve’s desire to gain more knowledge and taste what she wasn’t ready for shows this struggle. Likewise, we see the carnal nature in David as he lusts for Bathsheba, who was a married woman. Judas does the same as he betrays Jesus for mere coins. And in 1 Samuel 13, Saul is led by his flesh as he does a sacrifice to the Lord at a time that went against God’. Saul’s impatience to wait on God’s timing would cost him gravely. 

The truth is this, every time we seek to force our will over God’s, disobedience will follow. Every time we seek to be the source of attention or operate from a place of selfish gain, we can expect things to not go well for us. Though it may seem all is well in the moment, we will find that many suffer from our choice to only consider what we want. My prayer today is that we pause and ask the Lord His perfect will. The choices for our lives may not be inherently bad, like my choice to pursue my education. However, if we aren’t led by the Spirit of God to do so, we will face great turmoil. We have a powerful gift in the Holy Spirit. He lives within us and is our guide. He won’t lead us in a way that destroys our home or causes confusion. His ways are right, pure, and direct us back to God’s perfect will.  May we seek to follow His instruction and not miss the beauty of living out God’s plan for us. 

In all things, be led by the Spirit.

Let’s pray.

Lord, I thank you for guiding me. I thank you that your Spirit dwells within every believer. Lord, help me to follow your will and not my own. Reveal to me the truth about every decision. Show me my heart Lord. Show me if I have allowed pride, the desire to be seen, or my flesh to lead my choices. Lord, I only want to be where your presence leads. I trust you Lord and pray to walk in your will all the days of my life. Speak your truth Lord, I’m listening. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Truth over Lies..Betsy St. Amant

 Truth over Lies

By Betsy St. Amant

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6 (ESV)

Spoiler alert—not every thought we think is true.

This seems obvious, but if you’re like me, you need constant reminders of that fact. Just because something pops in my head doesn’t mean it’s true. Just because I think it doesn’t mean it’s accurate. I tend to fall into this a lot when it comes to anxiety. I think a thought, maybe something about my health, or I assume something that happens is a “sign” or a warning, and before I know it, my train of thought is careening out of control down the track.  

On top of that, not every thought is even our own! Satan and his minions love to speak in personal pronouns, attempting to convince us that his accusations are from ourselves. (and therefore must be real) We’re more likely to identify a lie if we’re hearing “You are such and such.” But when it sounds like “I am such and such”, it seems a lot more likely, doesn’t it? 

Of course, we’re capable of providing plenty of negative material from our sinful hearts. It’s not always from the enemy camp. When we’re not in fellowship with the Holy Spirit because of unconfessed sin or are caught up in the lure of the world, we are much more prone to drifting into a negative, condemning head space. But what about those times we’re progressing positively along in our spiritual walk and still hear the lies? Remember, at the end of the day, Satan is our accuser. (Revelation 12) He loves to throw lies at us, leaving us to wallow in the confusion and self-condemnation that inevitably comes in his wake. 

Most of the time, his lies are as subtle as a whisper. But man, are they sticky! 

As a fiction author, I often make time to read reviews and see what readers are saying about my latest novel. I could read twenty good reviews and one negative one, and guess which one I’m going to dwell on the most? The negative is what sticks. 

When we listen to lies and believe them, we start to operate out of them and view everything around us through that lens. Then we spiral into creating self-fulfilling prophecies. For example, if I focus solely on that one bad review rather than on the good ones, I will start to believe the lie that I’m not a good writer. Then I’m more likely to be tempted to give up on the ministry of writing God has created me for. If I stop exercising the gift of writing, and stop learning and growing in my craft, then I eventually will become a poor writer, See how quickly lies can escalate and propel us into bad decisions? 

You’re probably not an author reading your own reviews, but you have your Thing, whatever that may be. Your insecurity might nest in your career or as your role as a parent. Maybe you hear lies about your singing voice in the choir at church or about your ability at your job. Your lies might come in the form of guilt over not doing more or not being a good wife or a good caretaker. Whatever it is, step back and asked yourself if those accusations are from the Lord. I can almost guarantee you they are not, because when the Holy Spirit convicts, He nudges us gently with truth and in love. Conviction is not the same as condemnation. Are you feeling convicted, or guilty? 

The Bible tells us the truth will set us free. John 8:31-32 (ESV) So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It also says that Jesus Himself is the truth (John 14:6). When the lies come, ask yourself—what is truth? The only way to know is to come back to God’s Word. What does the Bible say about your situation? What does Scripture reveal about your thoughts? When we confront lies with the gospel, they tend to fade away. They can’t hold up to the piercing light of Truth.

The world is eager today to assure us with vain, empty platitudes of “you’re enough.” But the truth is, we’re not enough. Without Christ, we are nothing and have nothing to offer. But in Him, we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:28) Only the gospel can truly realign our hearts and our thoughts. Not the well wishes from the world, not the false security of empty praise, and surely not the false doctrine that we are worthy of our own accord.

Intersecting Faith and Life: 

• Do you have trouble believing the truth over the lies of the enemy?
• What Scripture can you memorize to remind yourself of truth when the lies get loud? 
• Consider finding an accountability partner to confide in when you struggle to identify truth and then build each other up. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

For further reading:
Revelation 12:9-12 (ESV)