The Tree Church Daily

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Explanation:

I feel like I’ve spent quite a bit of time in my life preparing for upcoming events. As a mom with four kids, I’ve spent many hours packing diaper bags, packing snacks, making meals, helping pack backpacks. Now that my kids are a little older, I spend time each week writing out the schedules filled with practices, concerts, and social activities, then put time into planning out how all of those events are going to coordinate. Each night, Matthew and I talk about the next day and what needs to happen when. In my own schedule, I’m constantly thinking about what emails need to be sent, people contacted, meeting scheduled. If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time thinking about and planning for what’s next.

But I wonder, do we spend enough time thinking about the state of our relationship with God? Are we as concerned about preparing for Christ’s return as we are what emails need to be sent or what event we have next? If I’m honest, I can get caught up in the preparation of my daily activities and sometimes put my time with God on the back burner. I know God gives mercy, and I don’t want to fall into a legalistic trap of thinking that only if I spend time daily with God will I be ready for Christ’s Second Coming. But I do know that when I spend time with God on a daily basis, my life is a better reflection of Him. When my focus is on putting God first, the rest of my priorities fall into place. I want to be as prepared as possible for Christ’s return, and that only comes in being purposed in how I live and what my priorities are in my life.

There are some passages of scripture that cut to the chase. I feel like this is one of them. Paul is not fooling around when he describes the day of Christ’s return. Are you prepared for your most important event ever? If you are in relationship with God and pursuing a life that reflects Him and His word (the Bible), then you have nothing to fear. If you aren’t, however, pursuing God in your life, then you should be scared. You don’t want to experience the “sudden destruction” that will come upon you. Instead, you want to be children of the light who remain in the light. You want to be people who are pursuing God and making Him a priority in your life.

Application:

1. Are you confident in where you stand with God if Christ were to return today?

2. Think through your schedule for yesterday and today. If someone looked at your schedule, could they see a space for time with God?

3. What is one practical step you can take today to be ready for Christ’s return?

Prayer:

God, we don’t know the day or time of Your return. We do know that it is going to happen, and we desire to be as ready as we possibly can. Forgive me for the times when I’ve shrugged off the idea of Your return and have been so focused on my own desires. Help us to have hearts that truly desire to grow in the knowledge of who You are and to transfer that knowledge into actions. We await Your Second Coming, and look forward to it with hope!

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Explanation:

Have you ever watched those cheesy Hallmark movies that are about some poor, single man or woman hopelessly seeking to find their “happily ever after”? There is usually some kind of drama associated with their search for “ever after”—confusion, betrayal, etc. Now let me tell you about my Jesus and HIS “ever after.”

I love the strong words this translation uses to describe our inheritance through Jesus. Let’s reflect on them and review their meanings together:

Imperishable–lasting forever; never dying; timeless; immortal

Undefiled–pure; unblemished

Unfading–not losing strength; forever bright

Guarded through faith by God’s power–God has promised that if we put our faith in Him, we have this promise eternally.

I don’t know about you, but from where I stand, cheesy Hallmark movies don’t hold a candle to the “ever after” I have through Jesus!

Application:

1. When you think about the words in the promise outlined in today’s Scripture, how do you feel?

2. What does it mean to you to have an “inheritance”? How does that compare to the inheritance you traditionally think of when you hear the term?

Prayer:

God, I am humbled by the promise of an eternal inheritance that is waiting for me. Your grace is boundless, and I know there is nothing I could ever do to be worthy of such an amazing gift. Knowing that You have prepared a place for me that no human or spiritual entity can touch or tarnish brings me to my knees in adoration of You. Forgive me of my sins and for the times I forget that this life is temporary, as are its troubles. Help me to focus on the eternal gift that awaits me, to sustain me through the storms of this life. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

For Further Study:

Read today’s scripture in two or three different translations of the Bible using Biblegateway.com (a free resource). Reflect on the words used to describe our inheritance in these other translations.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NIrV)

Brothers and sisters, here is what I’m telling you. Bodies made of flesh and blood can’t share in the kingdom of God. And what dies can’t share in what never dies. Listen! I am telling you a mystery. We will not all die. But we will all be changed. That will happen in a flash, as quickly as you can wink an eye. It will happen at the blast of the last trumpet. Then the dead will be raised to live forever. And we will be changed. Our natural bodies don’t last forever. They must be dressed with what does last forever. What dies must be dressed with what does not die. In fact, that is going to happen. What does not last will be dressed with what lasts forever. What dies will be dressed with what does not die. Then what is written will come true. It says, “Death has been swallowed up. It has lost the battle.”

“Death, where is the victory you thought you had?

Death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin. And the power of sin is the law. But let us give thanks to God! He gives us the victory because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.

Explanation:

I enjoy running, and I recently trained to run a 15k (which is 9.3 miles, in case you were wondering). I put a lot of time into preparing my body to be able to have the stamina to endure running for roughly two hours. On race day, I was feeling good. The run was going better than I had anticipated, until I hit mile eight. All of a sudden, my side began to cramp. I was not happy about the fact that my body in that moment was failing me. I had trained so hard and the finish line was so close; this was not the moment I needed my body to fall apart. Luckily, I got the cramp under control, and I was indeed able to finish the run.

I share this story because I think it is something we can all relate to. You may not be a runner, but I am sure at some point in your life your earthly body has failed you. Maybe it was a bad health report, an injury, or just the normal aches and pains that come with age. As we continue to walk this earth, our bodies will continue to break down, fall apart, and fail us. When sin entered the world, it took away our perfect bodies, and now we all experience pains, aches, and issues within our physical selves.

As discouraging as this is, we can still look forward with hope. Why? Because of today’s passage. When Christ returns, we will be changed in an instant! We will be made whole, new, and perfect. This includes our physical bodies. No more aches, no more pain, no more imperfections, but rather perfect bodies, perfect life, full perfection. I look forward to the day when I won’t have physical limitations, but will rather live in the perfect body God had designed for us to walk in from the beginning.

I hope this encourages you today. Whether you have recently dealt with a negative health report, have physical limitations, or are struggling as you get older, may this be a reminder to you that someday our physical bodies will no longer be a problem. We will be changed, made new, and will live in perfection for all eternity. Now, that is something to look forward to.

Application:

1. How have you seen your physical body fail you?

2. Why does this passage bring you hope?

3. What would your ideal, perfect body look like?

4. What do you think it will be like to have a perfect body, mind, soul, and spirit?

Prayer:

God, I thank You so much for the earthly body You have given to me. It has helped me accomplish so many wonderful things. And although this body gets sick and broken, I can look forward with hope, knowing one day it will all be made new. Thank You so much for giving us this reminder in Your word, that one day You will change us and make us new. Amen.

For Further Study:

Take some time today to make a list of all the things your body has helped you accomplish (i.e., giving birth, running a marathon, doing day-to-day tasks). I encourage you to then take some time to thank God for the physical body He has given you to use while here on the earth.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12(ESV)

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Explanation:

This passage is part of a letter written by Paul to the Christians in Corinth. The people in Corinth were failing to use their spiritual gifts from God properly. God’s intention for these gifts…prophecies, tongues, and knowledge…was to spread LOVE. But the people of Corinth did not see the reasoning for their gifts.

Today is my half century birthday. For my first 43 years, I didn’t fully grasp the plans God had in store for me. I was living what I thought was a good life. Husband, kids, friends, and financial comfort. I attended church and volunteered regularly. I thought I was doing a pretty good job of being a disciple of God, teaching Sunday school and singing in the Christmas choir. And then, an unpleasant circumstance opened my eyes to what God desires for us…to love one another. My situation spun me into a web of despair, and through that sadness, my heart was healed and made new by the love of others. Everything softened, hope returned, and for the first time I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit.

I saw through a clear mirror.

God’s gift of love is everlasting. Paul’s words speak the truth that everything else will pass or simply go away. But not love. I believe Paul can’t say this loudly enough. We all have situations that aren’t ideal…heartbreaks, loss, devastations. God has perfectly created a world where He places us to give love and to receive love. Maybe that time you smiled at the stranger changed the course of their day. Or, maybe a hug given to a person made them believe in themselves. Sometimes we don’t see the results of our actions, and that’s okay. Trust God to lead you to those who need and desire His blessing of everlasting love.

Application:

1. Think of “love” as an action verb. In what ways do you reflect a godly love toward others?

2. God’s love is unconditional. Pray for a person who has betrayed you, caused you pain, or is selfish.

3. Paul mentions the time when we will come face-to-face with God. How will your reflection look to Him?

4. Love is the foundation of Paul’s teachings and is the greatest gift. Reflect on the earthly gifts you have recently received. How do those compare to the eternal gift of loving one another?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are overwhelmed by Your love and grace. Help us to share in Your desire for our world to know Your love. Lead us to those who need to feel Your presence in their lives, and open our hearts to receive Your gifts. God, please provide comfort to those who do not feel love. Wrap Your arms around those hurting or suffering. May Your comfort be all we desire. In Your name we pray. Amen.

For Further Study:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:34-35 (ESV)

Read John 15:9-17.

Listen to Your Love Never Fails, by Chris Quilala/Jesus Culture Music

John 14:1-4 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Explanation:

Earlier in the book of John, Jesus lays it all out to the disciples. He tells them that Judas will betray him and Peter will deny knowing Him, all while dropping multiple hints of His impending death. Not exactly the miracles and teachings they had become accustomed to seeing and hearing. They are confused and not sure of the point. Jesus wants to prepare their hearts for what is next. This passage starts with Him acknowledging this tension, and wanting to give them hope. He wants them to have the courage to face all hardships, having faith that there are greater things coming. He is preparing a specific space for each one who believes and follows His way.

In a kingdom, there is the king and those in his palace, and then his subjects, the peasants, who live outside of the palace. Those inside the palace would dress differently, they would be given certain garments, and possibly even a ring to signify they belong in the king’s palace. When outside the palace walls, it would be obvious to the peasants where those people belonged, because there was honor to their position. Now, imagine being a peasant invited in to become a part of the palace, to get to serve the king, to be in his presence. Instead of a king, picture God at His throne, and you have been invited in. You now have the access to sit at His feet, to serve and worship Him freely. This is what Jesus is preparing, a place for YOU! He is inviting us, the sinners, to be a part of His palace, His Father’s house. And the way we get there? Through our relationship with Christ. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 4:6).

Application:

1. Because of sin, the world around us is scary most of the time. What are some things going on in your life that make Jesus feel distant?

2. Why do you think it’s difficult to persevere through difficult situations like this? Take a moment and ask Jesus to intercede in this area(s).

Prayer:

Jesus, how exciting to think that You want us in Your presence for eternity. You have told us that You are preparing a place for us, and will come again. Give us the courage to endure the hard things that put us on the path that leads us to You. Give us the faith to give those things to You, and to fully understand and believe that You are the way, the truth, and the life. Amen.

For Further Study:

Throughout the entire Bible, God has given us example after example of how He has prepared a place for individuals. A great example for today is Joseph. His story can be found in Genesis 37-50.

Your Kingdom Come

Author: Barb Crawford

Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV)

Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Explanation:

This passage is the beginning of what has become known as the Lord's Prayer. Jesus is teaching his followers how to pray. First of all, our God is to be hallowed, or greatly revered and honored. Next, Jesus says to pray that God's kingdom will come. To pray that we want God’s kingdom to come is saying that we want people's hearts to be changed and to be like Jesus. We are praying for God’s will and purposes on earth to continue to be accomplished in the hearts and lives of His believers, just as God's will is perfectly experienced in heaven.

If Jesus has instructed us to pray this prayer, I believe He is calling us to be a part of carrying out this task. I read this in one commentary: “We are to seek a radically new set of passions and priorities in our lives – Kingdom priorities. Pray that God will help all of us pray an old prayer in a radically new way.” Are you ready to accept this challenge? Jesus wants to use you. May His will be done in and through all of our lives.

Application:

1. Does your life reflect “Kingdom priorities”?

2. If not, what needs to change so your life will better reflect Jesus?

Prayer:

Father in heaven, we praise Your Mighty Name! Use us each day to further Your Kingdom here on the earth. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to help people to change their lives. May our lives speak volumes about Your love, and be a magnet drawing others into a personal relationship with You. Amen.

For Further Study:

Matthew 6:9-10 reads this way in The Message version of the Bible:

Our Father in heaven,

Reveal who you are.

Set the world right;

Do what’s best—

as above, so below.

Merry Christmas from the Devo Team!

Today’s devo is simply the Christmas story as told in the Scriptures. It is our deepest hope that you will read this account of our Messiah out loud with your entire family. May your Christmas be filled with the peace and hope found only in Jesus.

The Messiah Has Come

Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-21 (ESV)

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV)

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Explanation:

The book of Revelation is a crescendo, a cresting point meant not simply to tell us “truth facts” but to accentuate truth with a feeling. When a reader sits down with the apostle John’s writing, they are being invited into a cinematic experience. Think about your favorite movies…the way the story is told, the way the movie is captured, cut and edited, all with the goal of stirring in you feelings of love, fear, courage, greatness, or adventure. If the movie is good, every detail works you toward that grand vision the movie is trying to convey. The Spirit does the same here through John to make us feel something about our Champion.

With the chaos and destruction of a freshly defeated evil still smoldering, the clouds part and heaven’s Champion is seen seated on His steed. John describes Him as wearing all white, to tell us of His purity, but the army He leads also bears this white garb. The difference between the army and their Captain is that He alone wears a cloak dashed in crimson. The blood of His enemies? Perhaps. But a spotless army and the context of the cross paints a better picture of a cloak soaked in His own blood: the victory won on Calvary.

He bears the weapons of advancement and judgment. Flaming eyes that purify and cut through the masks humans wear. The double-edged sword of His words that pierce the heart and judge the ways of the nations. These words both advance the Gospel against the darkness and stand as the witness for their rebellion against it. He bears a shepherd’s rod to lead and correct the nations. He is the one who treads out judgment on those who will, until their dying breath, reject the love and sovereignty of God.

He bears an unknown name, a name of intimacy given Him by the Father. But John says He also bears other names, like Faithful and True. These aren’t just traits He possesses; they are who He is. He is also called by the name Logos, the same word John would use to introduce Him in his Gospel, the faithful and true Word of God who is the accurate image of God in this world, the ultimate revelation. And as if the music swells and the fanfare begins, John proclaims Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords! No one is beside Him (not even Caesar). He alone stands worthy of all adoration, praise, and honor. He is the self-sacrificing Champion, Judge, and King who John directs us to worship, love, adore, faithfully follow, and anticipate this Christmas.

Application:

1. John’s writing is meant to stir in us an attitude of worship and adoration. As you prepare for celebrating Christmas with your family, spend some time thinking on this crowned King image of Jesus and take some time to worship Him today. Ask Him to increase your love and desire for His presence. And pray for this vision of all the wrongs righted to come soon.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You crowned Your Son King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no earthly king beside Him. There is no earthly promise that can measure against His worth. But our hearts are fickle and we love transitory things. So help us to stay focused on You, our Champion of heaven. Help us to keep this image of worship that John provides before us, and may it stir greater love and obedience as we await Your return. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV)

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Explanation:

First Corinthians is a letter Paul wrote to the church of Corinth to challenge them in some of the ways they were living. Specifically in this section, Paul is telling the church to flee from all sexual immorality. In 1 Corinthians 5, we see that the church of Corinth is defiled by sexual immorality, and they see no wrongs in their ways. Paul is confronting the people who are committed in the body of Christ to turn from their sexual sin and boasting, because they bear the name of Christ in a way that should not be associated with this behavior.

In today’s passage, Paul begins by saying “Flee from sexual immorality,” and ends with “So glorify God in your body.” He is saying the same thing in two different ways. The first is saying do not even come near sexual immorality or let it tempt you; rather, run away from it. Paul compares how sins committed are outside the body, but sexual sins are sins against the body itself. When Paul is addressing the church, he is reminding them that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and they should glorify Him with their actions. Living in sexual immorality is dishonoring the gift we are given from the price Jesus paid. Therefore, as Paul clearly states, “So glorify God in your body.”

Application:

1. Why is it so important to glorify God with our body?

2. Is it easy for you to think sin just affects things outside, rather than within ourselves?

3. How can you set up accountability and barriers to help you to flee from sexual immorality?

Prayer:

God, we thank You for being a God who challenges us to grow in our holiness and in our character. We ask that when there are temptations, You would put people in our lives to challenge us and to help us. Remind us that You have created us in Your image, and we are called to live like You and to glorify Your name. Lord, we love You and thank You for the many ways You love us. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

For Further Study:

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (Romans 6:12-13, ESV)

1 Corinthians 2: 6-13 (NIV)

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to address some of the Christians in Corinth for walking dangerously close to the immoral sect of society. He reminded them that wisdom isn’t bad, but there is a difference between human wisdom and the complete wisdom of God.

My dad used to say, “I’m smart enough to know I don’t know.”

When we become believers, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us. He makes Scripture come alive and gives us the ability to understand its truth. God’s wisdom is revealed in Scripture, and The Holy Spirit causes us to love the Word, to hunger for it. However, we have to be in constant communication with God because if we aren’t, we are disconnected from Him.

Divine wisdom is not available to even the greatest of minds or the fiercest of leaders. Top Gun doesn’t even come close! Faith should not be in the wisdom of the world but in the power of God. God alone is competent.

The Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. The Holy Spirit is omniscient about Himself because the Trinity is perfect in knowledge. God knows Himself fully and unveils things to us that are known only to Him. This is a free, voluntary act of love. God does this in His own timing, without error. His Word is complete and authoritative, and we are never closer to Him than when we are reading Scripture.

Even if we have a Bible in front of us, it is foolishness to the spiritually dead. We cannot completely understand the vastness of God’s plan, but if we are in communion with Him, The Holy Spirit will guide us toward truth. Faith is working with The Holy Spirit, being inspired by Him, and having the emotional fortitude to remind ourselves that we are smart enough to know we don’t know.

Application:

1. Think about how often you truly focus on working with The Holy Spirit. Discuss with a friend or family member.

2. Work on positive Christian habits such as setting an alarm to pray. Get into a routine so this becomes a habit. Working with The Holy Spirit should be as automatic as breathing, but it takes time and practice to get there. Put in the work, and journal your experience.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your gift of The Holy Spirit, living in us and helping us understand the truth. We are grateful for this immense gift. We thank You for allowing us to do Your work. Give us the strength and courage to keep going even though we don’t fully understand divine wisdom. Help us get up each day asking, “God? What do you have for me today? How can I help spread the message of Your Kingdom?” Amen.