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 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.

God Is Good..Alexis A. Goring

 God Is Good

By Alexis A. Goring 

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” –1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

Have I not been good to you? I felt God emphasizing these words in my spirit almost every day for the past few weeks. Each time I replied to Him silently, “Yes, Lord. You have always been good to me.” Then I apologized for complaining, worrying, and counting my burdens more than my blessings. 

As I took time to reflect on all God has done for me, I started praising Him and thanking Him. My late maternal grandmother would sometimes tell me, “Gratitude will change your attitude.” I found her statement to be true because whenever I take time to reflect on God’s many blessings, I am overwhelmed by how good He has been to me. He has shown me favor, grace, and mercy. He showers my loved ones and me with mercy and compassion. He has kept me healthy and in my right mind. He has blessed me with a safe place to live that is surrounded in natural beauty. He has kept my family members alive and well. He has kept me out of trouble, ordered my steps in His Word, and been with me in every moment (good and bad). He helps me survive the storms of life to emerge stronger and wiser on the other side. He prepares me for every battle I face and helps me win. He encourages me when I’m sad and lifts me up and out of depression. He provides my every need. I know Him to be the Friend who will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

I realized that through it all, God is good and loves humankind with all His Heart. He is our Good Father who only wants the best for us. The Bible says God gives good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). But what happens when we feel like God is withholding gifts from us? What do we do when we feel like He is taking too long to answer our prayers? Perhaps we believe He doesn’t hear us and we entertain the thought that He has left us. Nothing can be farther from the truth!

The Creator of the Universe loves you. He thinks you are worth dying for (John 3:16)! Just because you cannot hear Him reply to you when you pray doesn’t mean that He is not there nor does not care. The opposite is true: God cares about you! It is important to remember that God’s timing is not our timing. He lives outside of time, above and beyond this sin-filled world. He sees the bigger picture, so He knows just what we need and when we will need it. My maternal grandmother also used to say, “God may not come when you want Him to but He’s always on time!”

With each passing year, I find her wisdom to be true. And you may too! Take a stroll down Memory Lane in your brain and remember how God was there for you exactly when you needed Him. When you feel discouraged, ask God to remind you of His faithfulness. And when you feel disconnected from Him, tell God how you feel (respectfully), then open The Holy Bible and pray over your study time before reading. Ask God to speak to you through His Word and He will! He may not answer you right away but He will answer in His perfect timing.

While you are waiting on God, try counting your blessings. Your load of burdens may start to feel lighter. The Bible says to cast your cares on Jesus Christ because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Practice that until you make that your first response in trying situations. Don’t ruminate over your burdens and worry. Instead, trust God! He has you covered.

Intersecting Faith and Life: How does counting your blessings help ease your burdens? When was the last time you remembered how good God has been to you and thanked Him?

I hope this devotional has encouraged your heart. 

Further Reading:

• John 14:1
• Philippians 4:19
• Psalm 103:8
• Psalm 25:8-9
• Psalm 31:19

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)

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 Racism..Emma Danzey

 A Prayer against Racism

By Emma Danzey

"Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”'" - Mark 12:29-31

No matter where we are in the world, the adverse effects of racism are evident. There is partiality and prejudice in every town. Whether it is cultural differences, family heritage, or physical genetics, people can be easily persuaded to create barriers between others who are different. As believers in Jesus, we attempt to model Christ in how we live. God commands us to show love to our neighbors and all people.

It is easy to judge, thinking other people need prayers for their racism. However, we have all sinned against others, having considered or shown partiality. Today, as we pray, let's ask the Holy Spirit to work in our world and within our own sinful hearts.

Let's pray:

Our Creator God,
Thank You for making men and women in Your image. You have created us, each unique with various cultures, colors, and backgrounds. We praise You that just as

A Prayer against Racism
By Emma Danzey

"Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”'" - Mark 12:29-31

No matter where we are in the world, the adverse effects of racism are evident. There is partiality and prejudice in every town. Whether it is cultural differences, family heritage, or physical genetics, people can be easily persuaded to create barriers between others who are different. As believers in Jesus, we attempt to model Christ in how we live. God commands us to show love to our neighbors and all people.

It is easy to judge, thinking other people need prayers for their racism. However, we have all sinned against others, having considered or shown partiality. Today, as we pray, let's ask the Holy Spirit to work in our world and within our own sinful hearts.

Let's pray:

Our Creator God,
Thank You for making men and women in Your image. You have created us, each unique with various cultures, colors, and backgrounds. We praise You that just as You made different types of land, bodies of water, various plants, colorful animals, and many stars and galaxies, You made people intentionally diverse. Thank You for being creative and making each of us in Your image, bearing the beauty of who You are as our Maker. Thank You that we get to model You in the way that we are unifiers and love each other well for Your glory. You say in Romans 2:11 that You do not show favoritism.

We pray today against all forms of racism. We acknowledge that sin is very real in this world, and the enemy would love to taint and tear apart the beauty of Your creation. We pray those who have hate in their hearts towards others against their background or color would come to the point of conviction and realize You have made all people in Your image. We pray You would open their eyes to see that everyone deserves Your love, grace, and kindness.

Forgive us for when we misjudged others and had racist or hateful thoughts, words, or actions. We confess that these decisions are directly sinful against You and our neighbor. We know this goes against Your commandment to love You and to love people. Lord, help us to be better representatives of who You are. We pray You will mend the damage we have caused through the power of the work of the Holy Spirit. We ask that You redeem the areas of brokenness and sin we have caused to hurt others and cause division.

Transform our hearts. Move within the church. Where we have modeled segregationist or separation due to differences in culture or color, we ask for forgiveness and reconciliation. We pray boldly for unity, peace, and clarity as we seek You for direction in any areas that need healing. Thank You to the leaders, pastors, and congregants actively pursuing to create spaces of unity where there has been division. We pray that You would continue to guard Your people against falling into the temptation to divide due to preferences of style or what they have known in the past. May we always stand by your Word and live it out even when challenging or uncomfortable. We praise You that we are not alone in this battle. We thank You for being with us as we learn, listen, and grow. Guide us in every decision with the Bible and by Your Holy Spirit.

Help us to prepare for our future in heaven. You say in Revelation 7:9 that there is a great multitude no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and the Lamb. We praise You that Your people come from every tribe and nation. In Your glorious name, Jesus. Amen.