Holy Spirit

DEAR GOD: Thank You For Your Protection~

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Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit ...Christ’s Protection of His Children

In the Christian faith, the protection of Christ over His children is a fundamental belief that offers comfort and assurance to believers. The Bible is replete with passages that affirm this divine safeguarding, portraying Christ as a shepherd who watches over His flock with unwavering vigilance and care. He is the constant source of comfort and His promises and love cover us all with an assurance that brings an inner peace.

When we aspire to do all according to His will and purpose in our lives, we are able to navigate life and the highways of both good and bad, all the days we are here on earth.

We are able to find the wisdom in cirucmstances that we ordinarily wouldn’t find if we didn’t have Christ as our foundation.

When we follow Him, and all that entails – such as being in the Word daily, praying, meditating on His Word, reflecting on His will, and displaying a Christian countenance from within allowing His Spirit to shine, we are assured safe passage in our lives here, and into the eternity!

The Nature of Christ’s Protection

Christ’s protection is not merely a physical safeguard but encompasses spiritual, emotional, and psychological dimensions. It is a holistic shield that guards the soul from the perils of sin and the despair of life’s tribulations. This protection is vividly illustrated in Psalm 23, where David acknowledges the Lord as his shepherd, leading him beside still waters and restoring his soul, even as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. This is such a comforting Psalm.

Most people associate Psalm 23 with death, when in fact it is an affirmation of LIFE and the promises of Christ and His love for His children!

The Assurance of Safety

Believers find solace in the promise that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38-39). This assurance is not a guarantee against hardship but a testament to the enduring presence of Christ in the midst of life’s storms. It is the conviction that, come what may, Christ’s love remains a bulwark against the forces that seek to harm His children.

That Christ is with us at the helm of the ship in the battered storms at sea. That He is with us through the fires of tribulations and battles in life. That He will guide us and bring us through it all without fail!

Reflection Questions:

  1. How have you experienced Christ’s protection in your own life?
  2. In what ways can we become more aware of Christ’s presence during difficult times?
  3. What role does faith play in feeling protected by Christ?

 “Heavenly Father, we thank You for the protection that Your Son, Christ, extends over us. May we always feel the comfort of His watchful eye and the strength of His loving arms. Help us to trust in His guidance and to rest in the assurance of His care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: I Sing to Thee With Love~

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Prayer to God for the Fire of the Holy Spirit by St. Ambrose of Milan ...

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.”
–Psalm 59:16 

God is my defense and the Rock of my foundation. He is the quintessential Being in all I see and feel. He is the Creator of the Universe and my very soul. Each morning, I sing with joy for another day, and thank Him explicitly for the gift of a new day. Each night I pray for His peace and protection. But most of all I thank Him.

What do I thank Him for?

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit within me, that guides me in all I do and speak.

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit that prompts me to do what is right and leads me onto the paths of righteousness.

I thank Him for His Holy Spirit that is always with me, and never leaving me or deserting me, ever.

I thank Him for His soothing voice and Holy Spirit that is forever holding me up safely in the rage of ugly vitriolic voices in the world.

I thank Him for giving me the present of His Holy Spirit.

These examples and so much more are what I “Sing” about in the morning and during the day, as I raise my voice and exalt Him, and give Him all the honor and glory.

I realize that with Him I am impervious to “evil” because I am protected by His precious Blood and by the Holy Spirit within me.

Do you give Him thanks daily? Do you realize that the Holy Spirit resides inside of you when you accept Him as Your Lord and Savior? Do you realize that He is with you always?

Today go through the day with the conscious thought and reality that “His Spirit is with You,” and He is guiding you every step of the way.  And then go ahead and give Him a shout of praise and offer Him a thankful heart of love. He died for you! (John 3:16) If that isn’t enough alone to adore Him, then I truly don’t know what more I can possibly say, because His love for us is the biggest and greatest love story ever told!

“Father, may I always realize that Your Spirit is within me, may I mirror Your Light in all I do, may I humbly serve You with all my heart and soul, may I be obedient to Your will and Your doctrine, and may I honor and adore You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

DEAR GOD: I AM INFUSED BY YOUR SPIRIT~

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Pin on (Romans 12:2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be ...

 

The Bible offers many lessons on how to make a difference in life. We are called to resist conformity to worldly patterns and renew our minds according to God’s Word. By seeking His guidance and transforming our way of thinking, we can then completely discern God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will for each of us.

Standing with and by God’s Word and will for our lives enables us to make choices and take actions that align with His purpose, and inherently will make a positive impact on others, as well as our lives. But only when it is according to HIS will, not ours.

You see when we rely on God and trust Him fully in all we do and acknowledge Him— He will direct our paths. And when we realize we need Him and aren’t using our “own wisdom” or devices, and love Him fully and keep from evil, it will be health for us inside and out (Proverbs 3:5-8).

The Bible teaches us that to make a difference, we should read the Bible, connect with God, serve others selflessly, and renew our minds according to God’s Word. Each session we spend with God on an intimate basis, that is getting to know Him, understand His word and how to apply it to our lives, we gain introspection into how we should live. We gain access into living life successfully while adhering to His commandments.

The Bible is a perfect testimony of who God is and what He’s like. After all, it’s inspired by God and it’s profitable for teaching, admonishing, rebuking, training us to be disciplined and walk in righteousness.

Plus, through His Word, God shows us and gives us everything in His book required of us to lead a life of goodness and demonstrate love towards each other.

Each of us are unique, yet all have the impact to make a difference in the world. The Holy Spirit will guide us and teach us as we go along in this world. The Spirit isn’t stagnant.  Instead, the Spirit will continuously move and flow effortlessly when we are aware, open and engaged with the Word on a daily basis. He is given to us as a “gift” when we accept the LORD readily. We are given that wonderful and glorious gift from the Father, and He is infused within us always.

 Luke 24:49 (NLT) – “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

“Father, may I always be connected to You on every level in my life, may I consult with You before I go about my tasks in early morning, may I seek Your face in all I do, and may I please You in all of my ways, all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

Dear GOD: I Give All To You~

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We can turn to God in prayers for peace whenever overwhelmed by the chaos and difficulty of life. As Philippians 4:6 tells us,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

When we look to God and turn to Him in earnest and seek Him daily in all that we do, we can be assured that we will be able to live life with purpose and meaning. When we acknowledge Him as a constant source and the empirical force in our lives, we are able to navigate life seemingly with an ease that those without God in their lives cannot be capable of doing.  We as followers are given opportunities to delve into His mind by His Word that will enlighten our paths, by giving us the Wisdom we need in order to gain perspective on any of life’s challenging highways along the way.

Finding time to sit and meditate and operate on a godly outlet will enable us to fully engage His positive Light and love that will be a reflection in all we do. It will be a sign to all we encounter in our lives. We will be a representative and a willing servant for the LORD to all around us. We may often hear along the way, “How do you find the answers? How do you stay so calm? How can you be so sure?”  And the response each and every time will be a resounding, “GOD.”

The Bible is a tool for life. It is a guide to understanding life. It is an impactful statement, and it is His love letter to us, His children. Showing all sides of life. The good. The bad. The ugly. The beautiful. The bloody battles. The consummate peace. The light. The dark.  All of it as it was then, and as it is today, a guide for what to do. What to expect if you don’t do it. And what happens when you do according to His will.

Have you read a chapter today? Have you read the Bible at all? Do you know His voice? He is here today as He was then, and always will be. Go to Him, open His book that was written for us, and tell Him how much you love Him.  After all, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to redeem us, isn’t that one of the biggest reasons to open your Bible?  (John 3:16)

“Father, thank You for Your love, Your peace, Your Word, Your will, and Your Presence in my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

DEAR GOD: Thank You My LORD~

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And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25 (KJV)

The passage above is so important to every child of God to fully absorb and meditate upon. This happened after they were unceremoniously thrust into jail, for no reason at all. Their crime? Loving Christ, and following His commandments, and preaching His love.

Being locked up “physically” didn’t stop or alter Paul or Silas from reacting “Spiritually” and offering up their praise and surrendering to Him even in the midst of their crisis.

After they sand in jubilation and honor of the LORD, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, thereby untying their hands that were bound, and opening the locked doors!  The guards were “put to sleep” by the LORD and didn’t awaken until after they escaped safely from the walls of that prison cell. (Acts 16:26)

We as Christians should follow suit. When we are encased in physical pain, or tribulations in the flesh, it is inherent that we act from spiritually.  We should praise the LORD irrespective of what is happening. No matter the issue, or magnitude of deep despair, recognize and acknowledge Him in all we do, and He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5)

God’s love is limitless, and His Omnipotence knows no bounds. It exceeds the basis of our fundamental comprehension. It is a massive and all-consuming fire of love and depth, of which there none other.

Presenting a spiritual focus in all of our daily interactions takes time, but the more knowledge we absorb from His Word. (Proverbs 1:7) (Proverbs 9:10)

When we acquire the knowledge that comes from Him alone, and we ascribe to His commandments, and His ways…we can attribute all things to Him and by Him. This is when we act differently than those who don’t have a relationship with Him.

Those who have issues or bad things happen, usually blame God. Ostensibly, those who know the LORD realize that things happen, but with Him we can get through it.

There is a mind-set among Christians that shines above the darkness, and that mind-set is what can make all the difference in 24 hours for each day we live.

Also, we believe we will be rewarded one day in Heaven, when we are called home. We believe His promises, and we trust Him, and know He is our Savior. Those facts bring an enormous amount of comfort no matter what we are going through. Amen.

“Father God, thank You for Your Presence in my life, for Your promises, and for Your love, it is through You and only You that I can endure, and harness the energy to live through issues, while giving You all the glory no matter what, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

 

Dear God: In Flight of Your Spirit~

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OXYGEN VOLUME 13

 

 

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves..”  Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Each day that we go out into the world we’re presumably doing a “balancing act” as it were. Going forth into the secular world where there’s continuous disdain and mockery for those of us with great faith. However, not all people in the secular world follow suit in terms of disdain or mockery, but it’s safe to say that a great majority do.  Harbingers of “wordly” goods can procure reprehensible acts which the world offers in abundnace. The world can run the gamut of hideous and evil abominations, while calling to us in “gentle disguise.”

 

This is what Jesus was warning us about…be aware, be watchful…be wise in the world.  As He instructed His disciples to go forth on their great commssion, He wanted them to be cautious and meek, while preparing for obstacles of derision and deception.

When we set forth to bring His message forward, no matter the depth of our  capacity… whether it’s local,  worldwide,  as a pastor, priest, or any member of clergy, or simply a lay person filled with faith…we must keep our eyes open to the ways of the world, and not conform to the wickedness that surrounds us… but instead, shine our light to those in the darkness.

The Dove has become known as a symbol of peace tied to our Savior, as the dove descended upon Jesus while being baptized in the Jordan.  Ultimately this gentle bird became known as a witness to tranquility and powerful in meaning when we symbolically tie it to the Holy Sprit

We’re all essentially ambassadors of Jesus as we preach His word, and share with others during our life on earth. But, the warning from Jesus to the disciples, and of course to us, is “keep your eyes open to the subtle deception of the world, while being meek,humble, and kind…be aware, because a ravenous wolf will tear you asunder if you become distracted in your quest.”  In other words, there is a need for a great balance.  We need to be both wise and gentle in order to exist and be purposeful in living out our destiny as God wills it.

So, prepare,  because ostensibly, we are NOT of this world. We are set apart from the worldly things.  We’re partaking in His gospel and His love willingly and obediently, while we adhere to His voice at all times.

So, take flight with His Spirit, and be of good cheer, because inherently we know this as John tells us so eloquently:   “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 KJV)

Are you ready to take flight?

 

by C D Swanson – 2015