Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

Listen to the Holy Spirit

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Today, the Holy Spirit says, “Harden not your heart” (Hebrews 3:7-8).

Today, is a new day; a day that will be filled with many opportunities. The choices you make today can change your life from living in frustration, to living in a place of peace with God. The Holy Spirit is giving us a powerful key that will open the door and lead us into the life in the Spirit.  If you listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit as you read Hebrews 3:8, you will enter in. Use the key; it will work even during the most painful situations. If you resist the temptation to harden your heart when you are hurt by the actions of others, you will enter into the peace of the Lord; the resting place for your soul.
 
Our human nature works to automatically block out pain when someone’s actions are hurtful. We harden our hearts so we won’t feel the pain of their hurtful actions, words, or gestures. Even though this is a natural form of self-protection, God says don’t do it.
 
“Today, if you will hear My voice, harden not your heart.” At the moment of impact, when someone’s words hurt you, don’t give in and take up an offense. If their actions are unbelievably hurtful, don’t waver and give in; it’s a trap of the enemy.  Don’t step in the trap, watch and listen to the Lord. That’s when you need to hear His voice and know what He is saying. Listen closely, and don’t give in to your feelings.
 
When Jesus was being nailed to the cross, He didn’t retaliate, He forgave. At that point He was in His earthly body and felt every bit of the pain we feel but He didn’t give in to the feelings. He responded by the Spirit and He was taken up into the presence of God. The moment you respond God’s way you will notice a wave of peace. This wave of peace comes and actually lifts you up when you do the right thing. You will be ushered into the presence of the Lord, resting and comforted in His presence. Yes, that person’s words or actions will hurt, but the God of all comfort will always lift you up.

God Has Adopted Us As His Own

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For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—Ephesians 1:5

The comfort you receive from the Holy Spirit confirms that you have been adopted by God as His own child. When you receive comfort from the Lord, it is like the warmth of a favorite blanket that creates outward warmth and an inward feeling. The feeling of comfort confirms to you that you are loved.

I recently heard the story of a mother who bought a special blanket to receive her adopted daughter in. The moment this mother saw her newborn daughter, she loved her, and the moment her daughter felt the soft blanket wrapped around her, she knew she was loved. The comfort of the blanket and the loving arms wrapped around her were soothing to this infant, and she knew that she belonged to her new adopted mother and father. Twenty-plus years later, this young lady still has this blanket and loves to feel the comfort of the soft texture.

In a world of turmoil we too need to feel the comfort that comes when we know we are loved and received by someone. Something happens on the inside when we cover up in a soft blanket; we feel comforted. The moment you feel comforted, let it remind you that God loves you, He adopted you, and wrapped you in a receiving blanket as His own child.