Under the guidance of the Spirit

Wednesday September 1, 2021

Under the guidance of the Spirit

Searching the Scriptures

An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying : Arise and go south, on the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the one which is desert. He got up and left. Acts 8: 26-27

A few years ago, upon leaving a professional conference, I was seized with real anguish about a colleague. I didn't know him before and had just shaken his hand.

No rest for me, until I decided to take my car to his place. My colleague seemed happy to see me and I didn't tell him anything about how I felt. As I left, I was prompted to say to him : "I will write to you often...", I for whom the correspondence was a nightmare !

What had I done ? I was very embarrassed and had to keep my word. But at the time of writing, I was led to an underlined phrase in my Bible and, amazingly, I was convinced it was for this person.

After six months of correspondence, my colleague wrote to me : "Thank you for your letters and your affection which helped me to find in Jesus my savior and my liberator. I must confess that on the day of your first visit, I was exhausted : you arrived just in time to stop me from killing myself."

Responding to what the Spirit of God asks of us can sometimes surprise and even cost us. Because that's not what we would have done with ourselves and we don't always understand. Yet God does not bother with our skills or what we love : He waits for hearts ready to respond. It is our perfect submission that allows God to intervene in a powerful way in the lives of people. This is why it is important that we obey what the Spirit puts in our hearts.

Listen to the voice of God

Let's take the time to listen to what God means. What does the Holy Spirit put on your heart ?

Praying is easy. Talk to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "Lord, work my heart so that I may be sensitive to the voice of your Spirit. Work in me, O God, that souls may be helped out of distress. May I die to myself for may your life be born in the hearts of others."

Praise God

To praise God is to show him our gratitude. Today, what are your subjects of recognition ? Take a moment to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now dig deeper into what you have received. What can you do to apply what God has told you ? Write down the concrete actions you can take.

Honor the Lord

Our route for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Lord, you are great and almighty. Nothing is hidden from your eyes. Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, amen !"

Jean-Louis Gaillard

Source (The Thought of the Day)