The Holy Spirit Knows My Heart

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When I am afraid, sick, or in crisis-mode, my anxieties weigh me down. It is though I am running circles around my worry rather than kneeling over my anxieties to pray. Yet when I do pray, what weighs me down is uplifted with a sense of peace, a stillness with a vision of the way forward.

Stubbornness prolongs my pain.

“The LORD says,
“I will instruct you.
I will teach you the way that you should go.
I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.
Don’t be stubborn like a horse or mule.
They need a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them,
or they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:8-9 (GW)

Learning to pay attention.

I have learned to do pay attention to His teachings first thing in the morning by reading God’s Word and devotionals. This is when I write in my prayer journal. If I am feeling rushed in the morning, I can expect that my day will be stressful. It is though I never spent my time with God at all. It is oftentimes because I do not know how to express myself. I look back in my prayer journal and I can see the rambling of my words. Then I feel ashamed. I remind myself that Holy Spirit knows my heart. He understands my rambling voice.

“But if we hope for what we don’t see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. At the same time the Spirit also helps us in our weakness because we don’t know how to pray for what we need. But the Spirit intercedes along with our groans that cannot be expressed in words. The one who searches our hearts knows what the Spirit has in mind. The Spirit intercedes for God’s people the way God wants him to.” Romans 8:25-27 (GW)

Turning shame to praise.

I am not to let the busyness and distractions of my life interfere with staying attuned with God. My prayer journal has helped me to write my way through all my crisis’ to stay focused on Him who knows my heart. I give all the glory, power, and praise to God who watches over me. He also sends people who share in my love and praise of God into my life. I am grateful for those who walk with me in His light and pray for me.

Prayer Journal Prompt:

“COME CLOSE TO GOD, AND HE WILL COME CLOSE TO YOU.” JAMES 4:8 (GW)

How can I create time to spend with God?

What keeps me from forming a journaling habit?

Who do I know that can help me draw closer to God?

Do I feel the Holy Spirit’s presence when I pray?  Why or Why not?

What does it mean to me, “But if we hope for what we don’t see”?

(c) 2016-2023 All Rights are Reserved

The Power of Discipleship

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My life has taken different turns with unique challenges along the way. God has reached me in my experiences because I have allowed Him to draw closer as I have drawn close to Him. His invitation arrived through His Word carried by shepherds and mentors along my way.

“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 2 Peter 1:4 (GW)

My motives for deliverance initially were for personal gain, restoration and recovery; however, the path of tornado does not affect just me but often the debris of my place of hurt scattered far and wide.

“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question, ‘Teacher, what I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’ The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. “’Do this and you will live!’ The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:25-29 (GW)

When the debris of my place of hurt collides with the hurt of others there becomes a need for mercy not only toward myself but toward those around me – who are known and unknown. Life together in the body of Christ gives discipleship its power. Love and mercy its power.

Prayer Journal Prompt:

“COME CLOSE TO GOD, AND HE WILL COME CLOSE TO YOU.” JAMES 4:8 (GW)

Describe my place of hurt.
How does my place of hurt affect others?
How has God’s mercy been shown to me?
How can I show that same mercy to others?
Do I love myself? Why or why not?
What does it mean to “Love your neighbor as yourself”?

(c) 2016-2023 All Rights are Reserved