“Submission to the will of our heavenly Father gives the Spirit free reign within our spirit.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 13, 2024
When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:8-11
I can say I trust God with a person or situation, but then I act like I don’t. For example, when a young man asked permission to marry one of our daughters, I hesitated and asked myself, “Can I trust him with my precious little girl?” At that moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me, “Entrust her to Me, and you will be able to trust him with her.” I still had some practical questions, but the Spirit gave me the confidence to continue in the process. I eventually granted the sincere suitor permission, based on my trust in the Spirit facilitating their relationship. Trust trusts.
Jesus made the role of the Holy Spirit very clear. Once the Lord ascended to heaven, the Spirit would remain on earth to convict unbelievers in Christ (the worst sin), to lead believers to live like Jesus (the best life), and to empower Christians to overcome the devil (the defeated enemy). The Spirit of God is our fuel to live by faith. We gain insight into complex circumstances and perplexing people when we appropriate His wisdom and strength. Indeed, the Holy Spirit leads us to avoid sin. Sin places our desires as the priority, but faith puts what Christ wants as the priority. Paul explains this push and pull between the flesh and the Spirit, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5).
We obey because we trust the Lord, and we trust the Lord as we obey. Yes, the sweet Holy Spirit has His way with us when we don’t stand in His way. Our ongoing submission to the will of our heavenly Father gives the Spirit free reign within our spirit. Like a broken thoroughbred follows the lead of his jockey, so we invite Jesus to saddle up our souls and direct our steps. Some days, we run an aggressive race; other times, we gracefully walk by faith, and in daily moments of reflection, we graze on the green grass of God’s word. Our obedience makes us more like Jesus.
When Satan senses we are surrendered to our Savior, he knows he’s defeated. By the word of our testimony, the living Word, Christ, and the word of God, we have overcome Satan and his demons. He is detestable and defeated. We don’t flirt with his advances because we know the pain he creates. Pride, materialism, and lust are age-old temptations that hold no sway over a soul consumed by Christ. Fight the devil in the Spirit, and we win; fight in our own strength and we lose. Thus, avoid tempting behaviors by praising and adoring our holy God! As Jesus gives us His authority over the enemy in the Spirit’s power, “Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you” (Luke 10:19, AMP).
Prayer
Holy Spirit, I ask for Your guidance in every step I take. Lead me with Your wisdom and give me discernment in all my choices. Help me to hear Your voice clearly and follow Your direction faithfully. Fill me with courage to trust Your path. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
Where do you need to invite the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your life?
Related Reading
1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 26:8; Galatians 5:16-17; 1 John 4:4
Worship Resource
Chelsea Moon/the Franz Brothers: Trust and Obey
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