Anticipate

We are continually faced with challenges and opportunities. We should anticipate these activities because Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” - (Jn. 16:33). Not only this, but the same Holy Spirit lives within us as Paul, and he said, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" - (Phil. 4:13). Another person said most eloquently, "Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world you will have trouble. You have an eternity of problem- free living reserved for you in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance, which no one can take away from you, but do not seek your heaven on earth." We should ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome all things which the world launches toward us. He will help if we will ask and follow His guidance.

Called by your own name

 I recently attended a gathering with many people and remembered only a few faces and fewer by name. Memories fade and appearances change with passing years, but some people’s names are never forgotten. The people’s names which we remember most clearly are the ones with whom we have the closer relationships. They know what the name means, why we are valued and what we value. We may be surprised when out of a sea of people, another person recognizes our face and perhaps remembers our name. Have you ever looked around to see a mass of people who were strangers? Did you feel alone? This is not the place of a child of God. To Him every person is precious and everyone matters. The Lord said to the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” Isa. 49:16 (ESV) Astounding! "Engraved." Cannot be taken off. Your name is on God’s hand. This is the same image as the Ten Commandments; instructions which did not change, but were engraved or etched in a most permanent medium, stone. Have you ever considered that individually, you have as much value to God as 99 other people? What else could Jesus have meant, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” Lk. 15:4 (ESV) We are of so much value that He chose to live within us via the Holy Spirit. Paul described God’s acceptance of the Corinthians as, “and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2Cor. 1:22 (ESV). Additionally, "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:4-7 (ESV). So, children of God are completely and continuously cleansed because of Jesus, known by God and have their eternal future sealed with a promise. Until the promise is revealed, the Holy Spirit is as close as any other can be and will provide as much guidance as we are willing to accept. In the mass confusion of people and activities, we are never alone; we always have a helper beside us.

Glory

Humans are generally motivated by physical sight. What we can see becomes more real to us than happenings we do not personally witness. Jesus was God’s answer to this dilemma. B.B. Warfield described Jesus as, “the visible manifestation of the invisible God.” Jesus was the visible Glory of God. This reflects Jesus’ words to Phillip, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.” - Jn. 14:9-10 (ESV)

What is in a name

A name represents a designation for, a description of, and perhaps the essence of the person. When Moses asked the name of the power from the burning bush, the answer was a holy name, a name beyond comprehension, “I am that I am.” When we consider the name Jesus, we should realize that it attempts to describe all He stands for, all He did for creation; all He did for those who accept Him.  It is a powerful name and commands control over even the demons. “Some of you were once like that [living sinful lives]. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:11 (NLT)

Overcoming imperfections

All humans are imperfect, all of us have something wrong with our decaying bodies. As opposed to an unknown lurking disaster, blessed are those who know of, admit these weaknesses, and try to avoid more serious degradation. Poor choices and mistakes may cause injuries that last for as long as we live There may be scars inside as well as outside our bodies and sometimes there may be some degree of pain associated with this condition. Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made, which allows some level of physical healing. Besides this, and more serious for our future life, there are the spiritual defects in our existence. How can those spiritual injuries be healed? Jesus is the only pathway to spiritual healing, and He covers our sins completely. St. Augustine of Hippo is quoted as saying "It is easy to want things from the Lord and yet not want the Lord Himself, as though the gift could ever be preferable to the Giver." Is this true for us, today; do want to be spiritually and perhaps physically healed? If so, actively seek Jesus and be ready for the Holy Spirit to begin changing you and making you whole again! Consider this, "One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me,” Jn 5:5-7 (NIV). All people need help as we move along our unique independent spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit will provide all we need when we ask Him to do so. 

Mind

 During our daily activites or when the day's planned activities are at an end, what fills our minds? Is it "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit." - Rom. 8:5 (NLT). Beware, "We don't like to be controlled. However, we will be controlled either by our sinful nature or by the Spirit of God. There are no middle options (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 6). While politically incorrect, deep in the core of our souls we know it's true. The things that Satan entices us to think of as freedom, invariably end up damaging us, our relationships, and our future. They enslave us to addictive processes, systems, and habits. We are sucked into the vortex of sin's power: Our thoughts are increasingly controlled by sin's enslaving lifestyle. The Spirit, however, frees us from this bondage. The Spirit gives us the power to live with freedom, enjoying a life full of his fruit — love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). And our role? First, we must choose to actively seek the Spirit's influence over our will. Second, we must commit to responding to his lead in what we think and do (Gal. 5:25). When we look at our lives, do we see our thoughts and actions dominated by the sinful nature or by the Spirit? If the sinful nature is dominating us, it's time to go back and focus on our role of seeking the Spirit and responding to his lead!

Permanent Assurance

Results of many goals and experiences in life can be altered. The work Jesus did on the cross was a one-time event in the spiritual realm, which resulted in a gift that can never be changed. When one learns of this gift, he has the opportunity to accept it, ignore it, or later walk away from this amazing promised gift. But, the obedient believer has a permanent seal, guaranteeing union with Jehovah God one day, forever. “But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval." - Jn. 6:27 (NLT)

Fruitful

 Christians are often challenged to "be fruitful." The following thought is usually, what kind of fruit can I, or do I, produce? Paul also reproduces this teaching in Galatians 5:16-26 by contrasting the works of the flesh and the works produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Reality is that all people produce some kind of "fruit" by our words and actions. Some fruit is honorable to God, some is not. It is encouraging that those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit produce fruit which is made good by God's further actions. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." Matt. 7:15-20 and "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Gal. 5:22-23.

Human worth

Humans very often consider their value and worth linked to the physical world, its demands and activities. In the grand scheme of things, our earthy lives are not as important as the life to come. However, our actions while in human form determine where we will spend eternity. Physical struggles and pains are troublesome, but not as important as our next state of life. When a person makes the decision to accept Christ's gift and spend eternity with Him, the Holy Spirit comes to live within the person and guide him through the period of time until the earthly life ends and eternity begins.  "But if Christ is in you, the body is indeed dead on account of sin, but the Spirit is life on account of righteousness." - Rom. 8:10 (Berean Literal Bible).

God's presence

Frederick Buechner said, "It is not the objective proof of God's existence that we want but the experience of God's presence. That is the miracle we are really after, and that is also, I think, the miracle that we really get." Some will try to orchestrate the times and ways these desired presences are revealed via promised miracles, however, God cannot be manipulated by the creation. Perhaps some try the same kind of manipulation that works on parents, who usually recognize the actions. Paul said, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” – Rom 8:14 (ESV). Much like the relationship with our earthly parents, we are comforted when we understand our parents are close by and are interested in our activities. This is the basis of care and discipline; it is difficult to accept discipline from someone we think does not care for us. We accept God cares for us when we can perceive His presence. For Christians His presence is constantly within us, the indwelling Holy Spirit, we understand this by trust and faith. The Bible tells us how much He cares for us, and it speaks to us anytime we are ready to listen, for the Holy Spirit will reveal those teachings as we are able to accept them. One goal of the Holy Spirit is to mold us for the next location of our existence, heaven. We need to ask the holy Spirit to guide us along our unique individual spiritual journey.

Never Alone

Our physical existence may involve times when we feel alone, by ourselves, lacking personal confidence. This is a feeling the Christian never needs to experience because the Holy Spirit lives within us; we only need to allow Him to help guide us toward godly objectives. When we are distressed and reach out to God, we always have someone to go with us and help us. “And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.” - Rom. 8:27 (NLT).