Devotional

“We speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.” —1 Corinthians 2:13 

 I keep goofing up. I can’t live the Christ-life. But neither could the disciples.  

 So before he left the earth, Jesus pointed to a crucial ingredient of the authentic Christ-life, in John 14:25-26: “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, 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.” 

 Christ’s Spirit is living in us too, today, available to speak to us as much as we’re willing to tune in to Him. Some make the mistake of “mystifying” the Spirit, but He is the same Spirit prompting me to make a good decision instead of a bad one, a healthy choice instead of an unhealthy one. When your kid wrecks the car, it’s this same Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, prompting you to respond with grace instead of rage. 

 Jesus spoke in sweeping terms: he said the Spirit would teach us “all things.” In the 3.5 years He spent ministering on earth as a man, He couldn’t cover every specific situation that I will ever find myself in. I need His Spirit walking with me moment-by-moment, speaking to my spirit, guiding me into His ideal design in every situation. I need Him teaching me “all things.” 

 But as I live my life, how much guidance am I actually receiving from the heart of God? Am I a person of prayer — not necessarily attending “prayer meetings,” but consistently talking and listening to the Spirit of Christ throughout the day, in every situation?  

 If I’m not listening, I’m not going to be able to live by God’s design. I’ll get into trouble when I haven’t even checked in with Jesus to see what He has to say about a given situation. 

 Prayer is a crucial component of living and serving by God’s design, achieving a life of authentic grace! 

 My prayer this week: Spirit of Christ, I want to listen to you. I know I need to hear from you more consistently. Keep reminding me, gently, to tune in to your voice. Help me re-orient my life to make communication with you a constant component … and let it show in my relationships and in my service to you.