“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you...” (John 14:26)
When Christ was about to depart he left a specific instruction: “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” ( Luke 24:29). Why would it be so necessary. It soon became obvious for when the Holy Spirit came there was an instant change: “Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles” ( Acts 2:43).
It was not just the power to witness, the reason for the Holy Spirit is that He is also a companion, important in the life of every Believer in Christ. Earlier Jesus had said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” ( John 14:26). The Lord knew more about the world his disciples were about to encounter, and hence the need of a constant power around them.
One other equally powerful role was conviction. Jesus once taught, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Not only does the Holy Spirit bring us to that point of repentance and calling on the Lord to come into our lives as a personal savior, he is also the inner witness we all need to guide us in our walk with Christ.
Today, one thing we need to be confident of is that we have this companion- the Holy Spirt, the power we all need in our walk with Christ!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for this indescribable gift of the Holy Spirt, our companion and friend, to help me in times of trouble and give me power over sin, and may I walk closely with him, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
