Monday May 15, 2023

Today is Monday, May 15 and we are exploring what the Bible says about the work of the Holy Spirit.

As I begin this time of prayer, I pause and become still. I breathe slowly and deeply and center myself upon the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Pause and Pray

Father God, open my heart and enlighten my mind as I search your Holy Word. Lord Jesus, open the scriptures to me and teach me your truths. Come, Holy Spirit, be my helper and guide as I seek to grow in Christian maturity. Amen.

I seek God’s presence and call on him with the words of Psalm 141.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:1-2

Pause and Pray

Like the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is a full and distinct person of the Trinity. As the Father is the Creator, and the Son is the Savior and Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier who frees Christians to lead new lives. The Holy Spirit teaches, encourages, consoles, convicts, reveals truth, empowers service and brings sanctifying grace. The Spirit was sent by Jesus after he ascended to Heaven to be the believer’s advocate, comforter and guide. The Spirit is present in the Church as well as in individual Christians. The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers and is a gift to be received from the Father in Heaven. One day Jesus’s disciples saw him praying in a certain place. When he was finished, one of his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. He taught them The Lord’s Prayer and encouraged them to be persistent in prayer.

So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:9-13

Jesus plainly indicates that if I ask, seek and knock, I will receive, find and discover. His analogy makes sense to me. I know as a parent, if my child asks for something beneficial to eat, like a fish or an egg, I would provide their wish as best I could. I certainly would not respond to my child’s good request with something harmful (like a snake or a scorpion). Jesus offers this memorable example to encourage me to bring my requests before God, confident my Father in heaven will provide. I should not be afraid to ask God. I can expect to receive good things, obtain answers and find passageways of new discovery. As much as I want to give good gifts to my children, my Father wants to give me good gifts even more. In Luke 11:13, Jesus mentions a specific gift – the gift of the Holy Spirit. My Father in heaven will give the Holy Spirit when I ask him.

Ask: Have I asked God for the gift of the Holy Spirit? Do I believe God wants me to have the Holy Spirit as an indwelling presence in my life?

Pause and Pray

Blessed Lord Jesus, thank you for your resolute reminder that I am God’s child and he wants to give me good gifts. I can be confident to ask, seek and knock and receive the response for which I hope. I ask now for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit and have faith that my prayer will be answered. I read your words from Luke again and listen for the message you have for me.

So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:9-13

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Today I consider what I would like to ask God to provide. I compile a three-pronged prayer list for my loving Father. First, I record the things I would like to receive. Secondly, I list the questions I have for God in which I seek answers. Third, I name the doors that are closed to me that I hope will open. I collect my prayer list and offer it to God with the confidence Jesus provides and the encouragement he gives me to persevere. Perhaps the best gift of all is God’s very presence dwelling in the inner temple of my soul. God desires to give me the good gift of the Holy Spirit and all I need to do is ask him. Perhaps opening the door of my heart to welcome the Holy Spirit is the beginning of a grand new journey for me.

Pause and Pray

Breathe on me, Breath of God. Come, Holy Spirit, live in me, dwell in my heart, whisper your love to my spirit. Fill me with the hope, joy and peace that only you can provide. Sanctify me in your grace and reveal the next steps in my Christian walk so I may grow in holiness and make progress in maturity. Teach me how to cooperate with the good you are working in me. Amen.

Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

I leave this time of prayer with a renewed awareness of God’s Holy Spirit at work in my life. I go to share the love he has poured into my heart with others.

Amen