The Spirit

Weekly Overview:

One of the greatest privileges as a child of God is that we can have the heart of our heavenly Father. We don’t have to wonder how he feels about us. We don’t have to wonder if he will guide us. We don’t have to question whether he loves us or cares about us. Through the Holy Spirit we have continual, free access to the heart of God. May your relationship with God go deeper and become freer as we learn how to have God’s heart this week.

Scripture:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13

Worship:

Breathe On Us by Kari Jobe

Devotional:

The Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us as believers is our gateway to the heart of God. It’s through him that we can know the thoughts, emotions, and will of the Father. It’s through him that we grow in our revelation of God through Scripture. And it’s through him that we encounter God’s manifest presence.

In John 16:13 Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 says, “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Encountering the heart of God through the Holy Spirit is meant to be normal for believers. It’s not supposed to be weird to hear from God. It’s not only for the chosen few to know God’s heart moment to moment. We’re created to know the Father and the Son by the Holy Spirit. We’re created for real, authentic, and transformative relationship with the entire Godhead.

Unless we allow God to create a new normal for us, we will never experience the fullness of life Jesus died to give us. Unless we open our hearts to the Spirit and allow him to teach us how to live life in communion with him, we will never be rooted and grounded in God’s love and grace. And without being rooted in the love of God the storms of this life will always wreak unnecessary havoc.

The Spirit longs to lead you to the heart of God today. He longs to share with you the “thoughts of God.” He longs for you to know the depths of his love and grace. Allow God to create a new normal for you today. Seek out his will before decisions you are unsure of. Seek out his heart when you feel distraught, insecure, or frustrated. And seek out his manifest presence when the cares of the world begin to weigh on you. May you grow in fellowship with the Spirit who dwells within you as you enter into a time of guided prayer.

Guided Prayer:

1. Meditate on the availability of knowing God’s heart through the Holy Spirit. Allow Scripture to fill you with a desire for a new normal.

“The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10-11

2. How connected are you with God moment to moment? Are you living with a continual awareness of his heart? Journal an honest assessment of your relationship.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into a lifestyle of deeper, more continuous encounters with the heart of God. Decide today that you don’t want to live apart from an awareness of God’s will, love, and nearness.

In Exodus 33:14 God says, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” God will go with you today. There is nowhere you could go that he won’t be ready to love you and reveal himself to you. You’ve been granted wonderful, supernatural access to the heart of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. May you find rest in the presence of the living God today.

Extended Reading: 1 Corinthians 2

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