1 Corinthians 14:12 - The purpose of gifts of the Spirit

So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

This was an interesting passage and one I don't remember reading before. Speaking in another language (tongues) was a gift of the Holy Spirit in the time of the New Testament. Apparently many people had (or claimed to have) this gift, demonstrated by speaking in a "language" no one understood. Today, I believe some have (or claim to have) this gift as well. This passage points out that the point of the gift is for one to speak to people who speak a different language than they do, for example speaking Spanish to Spanish speakers when I don't speak Spanish. If we want to excel in a special talent, work on something that will be useful to the church.

Lord, thank you for special talents and gifts. Please help us to use our gifts to grow and build up the church, not for our personal gratification. Amen.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - My sin and the Holy Spirit

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

I have heard this verse so many times. In context it is speaking of sexual immorality, but it can be applied to so many things. What am I exposing the Holy Spirit to? Alcohol? Junk food? Junk television? As a Christian, remember the spirit of God is in us all the time,

Lord, thank you for taking up residence in this weak vessel. Please forgive me of all the sins I drag you into and help me to sin less frequently. Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:15 - Human judgements

The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

As a person with the Spirit, I am not subject to merely human judgements. I needed to hear this today.

Lord, Thank you for giving me the just the right verse when I need it.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:11 - What is the Holy Spirit?

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

The context of this passage is the wisdom of God and that we receive his wisdom through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can be a difficult concept to understand, confused even more by the King James Version of the bible referring to it as the Holy Ghost. I suppose it seems a bit supernatural, but no more supernatural than God. This passage is a great explanation. Just like you and I have a spirit (our inner thoughts, the spark of the divine which sets us apart from the animals, the "I think, therefore I am" idea), God has a spirit too. This is the spirit which he shares with us and gives as a gift to us when we are baptized. This is God living in us.

Lord, thank you for sharing your Spirit with us. Please help us to rely on your Spirit rather than our own wisdom. Amen.

Psalm 142:2 - Complaining

I pour out before him my complaint;
     before him I tell my trouble.

No one likes to hear us complain. We can wear our friends and family out with complaining. But, there is one we can go to who does not tire of our complaints: God. God will listen to us for as long as we talk, God loves us and as a baptized believer, his spirit lives in us and is always ready to listen.

Lord, thank you for always listening to our complaints. Please help us to fully trust you and give our concerns over to you. Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-17a - My prayer for you

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

On Sunday at Webb Chapel Church of Christ, our lesson was on prayer. A challenge was issued for us to write out a prayer to God,, praying for a specific person, then give the written prayer to them. This is sort of a answer to that challenge. I am praying this prayer, as Paul prayed this for the Ephesian church, for you.

Lord, I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen whoever is reading this prayer with power through your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Amen.

Psalm 25:17 - Help

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

God knows what is troubling us. He knows what our current struggles are. He hears us when we cry to him. And he can do something about it. Yesterday I was speaking with a friend and we talked about the sword of the Spirit, which is the Bible, and how it is our weapon against our struggles and temptations, By studying the Word, we are strengthening our weapon. We have to carefully wield this weapon and sometimes the Words will be for us to keep to ourselves and sometimes they will be Words to share. Either way his Words are there for us with the Holy Spirit as an interpreter and guide.

Lord, thank you for hearing us and helping us. Please help us to keep your word close to our heart so you can use it to relieve the troubles of our hearts and free us from anguish. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 - Chosen

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

Chosen by God. What a powerful thought. God has chosen us to be his children. The following verse tells how we can know we have been chosen: "because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction." The gospel isn't something we have to convince ourselves is true, we can feel our conviction, it's power and the Holy Spirit living in our lives.

Lord, thank you for making us a part of your family. If we don't feel your power, Holy Spirit and deep conviction, help us to reevaluate our conversion story. Amen.

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Exodus 31:3-5 - God's artists

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.

In this passage, God highlights some of the artists he has chosen. I love that it is not just artistic abilities mentioned but also this artist has been filled with the Spirit of God, wisdom, and understanding. As an artist, you know how much hard work goes into your work. Sometimes it is hard to remember you have a special ability. We often think, "Anyone could do it, it just takes time." But the truth is God has given the artist their special ability.

Lord, thank you for giving us special talents and abilities. Please help us to use those for you. Amen.

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Exodus 19:11-12 - Communication with God

And be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death.

At this time, God was only in communication with Moses. He (and Aaron) would communicate God's messages to the people. They saw his mighty works as they left Egypt, but they had no instruction from God other than what was passed on to them from others. Today, we each get to have a personal relationship with God. We talk with him in prayer and he lives within us.

Lord, thank you for the personal relationship we have with you, Please help us to listen for your voice. Amen.

Romans 13:12 - Armor of light

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

If we live every day with the urgency in this verse, we will be able to withstand Satan's arrows.

Lord, thank you for giving us armor of light. Please help us to put that armor on every day. Amen