Devotionals

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Teaching Me to Pray, Pt II

Digging for Truth: A right is defined as a power or privilege held by the general public as the result of a constitution, statute, regulation, judicial precedent, or other type of law. America’s Bill of Rights protects her citizen’s freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to keep and bear arms, the freedom of assembly and the freedom to petition the government. I am so grateful for my rights as an American citizen and I never want to lose my appreciation for my freedoms, because they are a divine blessing for the nation governed under the authority of God.

I feel doubly blessed, because not only am I proud to be an American citizen under an incredible constitution that I have agreed to honor, I am also a blessed citizen of heaven and child of God while on earth. Blessed to be a blessing! How do I know?
Grace for the Heart: According to Scripture, in accepting and believing in Christ for salvation, we have been given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). When we receive the Spirit, we are adopted as God’s sons and daughters and have the right to call God, Abba Father (Romans 8:15). Believers have already been blessed and this entirely changes our prayer life as we pray for God’s Kingdom of blessings to be revealed on earth!
We come to God with our requests, not begging him to do something, but asking the Helper to intercede for us and open our eyes to see what has already been made available in the Spirit. We are asking for insight or revelation to the reality that already exists in God’s will for us as his sons and daughters. Our challenge is simply “waiting” for spiritual eyesight, because revelation comes from the Helper. God has promised to be with us and guide us as worshipers in Spirit and Truth.

John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Ephesians 1:18-20 NLT18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Challenge: To worship God in Spirit and in Truth is to partake of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Through the work of the Helper, we begin to see the prayer concerns before us through the eyes of Christ who leads us by faith and trust in our Father’s will. We will know the Truth, because Jesus is Truth!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the rich inheritance that belongs to your children. We must see ourselves and the petitions we place before you as requests to see the insights and revelation of Truth before us. May your highest and best for your children be served today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Teaching Me to Pray, Pt I

Digging for Truth: Prayer is the honest communication of love and faith between ourselves and God. Certainly, God knows all about our needs long before we pray, but God desires for us to pursue and seek him in order to commune with him; prayer reveals our sincere dependence upon our Helper. Prayer is necessary when it comes to the will of God. In Scripture, Christ modeled prayer perfectly and let’s not forget the Spirit was upon him to be his Helper. When Jesus wanted to discern the will of the Father, he prayed and when he acted by faith on the Father’s will, the Spirit provided the power to accomplish it.

Grace for the Heart: The disciples saw how prayer worked with Christ and his communication with the Father, as well as how the Spirit moved to answer those requests. Therefore, the disciples came to Jesus and asked him to teach them how to pray and communicate with the Father in order to get the same results. Scripture teaches us how to pray, as well (Matthew 6:9-13).

Romans 8:26, 27 NLT 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

Challenge: The Spirit helps us to pray in righteousness, so we need to recognize our limitations as we petition God and ask for the Spirit to intercede for us.

Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; they kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.
Reflection: The Comforter, Pt 2

Digging for Truth: Today, we will continue our thoughts about the Helper as the Comforter for the brokenhearted; the Lord tenderly loves us into a sense of well-being. When we are brokenhearted, we need the tenderness of our Savior. Tenderness is different than sympathy. The Hebrew root word for tenderness translates as compassion which is derived from the word womb. So, life and compassion are connected; God nurtures us with his own life. God acts in compassionate ways toward us as a parent, father and, as we saw yesterday, a nursing mother. Lastly, genuine godly compassion always results in action. For example, God’s forgiveness flows from his compassion.

Grace for the Heart: Compassion is connected to deliverance; God brings people back to his shalom—wholeness. In the New Testament, God’s compassion is seen clearly in the person of the Son who responded to people’s needs with grace. Jesus looked at people and was moved with compassion, because he realized they were like sheep without a shepherd—in misery with no hope.

John 14:16-17 Amplified Role of the Spirit
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

Challenge: Compassion is a strong and powerful emotion, so as we follow Jesus we are drawn to help, nurture, and surround others in restorative ways, because of the compassion we have received from the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for seeing our tears and for knowing we need your Helper to guide us toward wholeness. In our restoration, may we be quick to share compassion with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: The Comforter, Pt 1

Digging for Truth: Sometimes we can find ourselves so brokenhearted we cannot think clearly about life; we just take the next breath and keep moving. At those times, God knows our crushed spirits need a Comforter to hold us and encourage our souls; so, he becomes what we lack. As well, God sends his children to surround us and pray for us, because we may struggle to pray in our pain. Our wounds can be raw and we tend to retreat until things start to heal a bit. And, in time we do heal, because God is our Healer.
Grace for the Heart: God’s divine hugs are the best to bring comfort and healing to us when life overwhelms us. His Word tells us he comforts us like a mother comforts a hurting child.

Grace brings us courage and strength, so we are empowered to cope with the painful experiences of life. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The Helper promises to bring us a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning and festive praise instead of despair
(Isaiah 61:3).

Psalm 34:18 NLT The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Isaiah 51:12 NLT “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?

Isaiah 66:13 NLT “I will comfort you there in Jerusalem as a mother comforts her child.”

Challenge: CS Lewis once wrote, “If tribulation is a necessary element in redemption, we must anticipate that it will never cease till God sees the world to be either redeemed or no further redeemable” (The Problem of Pain). As long as we face tribulations, we will need a Comforter.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our Comforter and bringing the necessary healing to our souls. Each day we need a touch, because life is not easy. Yet, we trust you and know you are good! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Tender Heart and Tears

Digging for Truth: When we come to the deep belief the Helper is not only a Person, he is our best and dearest friend, we are easily overwhelmed with emotion. Father God so loved the world he gave his Son to pay for our sins and bring forgiveness (John 3:16). Then, the Son sent the Helper to show us how to live righteously. Such divine, selfless love and concern for rebellious or hard hearted human beings is a challenge to comprehend. However, the Helper brings the confidence and assurance we are never alone and spiritual growth and refreshment is always only a prayer away.

Grace for the Heart: Grace has a softening effect on human hearts. Crying or weeping in gratitude is a beautiful response to the goodness of God. We may have never been one to shed tears in public, but when we realize the Spirit and power of God is with us, we may not be able to stop from crying. We do not have to carry our burdens alone; we have been given the Helper. Most of the time, our response may be one of praise and shouting, but when we are carrying a burden that seeks to overpower us and God rises to lift our load, we easily shed tears as we respond to God with inexpressible gratitude.

Tender hearts are blessed before the Lord. In fact, God tells us throughout Scripture hard hearts cause abundant issues in our relationship with God and with others. Sin (unbelief) causes our hearts to become hardened in the first place. So, if you find yourself moved to tears when you experience God’s presence with you, just know it was a promise the Lord made (Matthew 28:19-20).

Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT 19 And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, 20 so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Challenge: Showing emotion for God is not a weakness, it is love and humility. May we always come to God with tender hearts; however, we have the promise hard hearts can be made tender and pliable in the Spirit. Ask, Seek, Knock! (Matthew 7:7-8).

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the hearts of your children to be tender before you, so you can bring the transformation we desperately need. When our burdens are so heavy we shed tears, please be our Healer. May every emotion we lay before you bring you glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Liberty and Free Will

Digging for Truth: Solomon reminds us, in one of the Books of Wisdom, that “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our step.” (Proverbs 16:9) God gave you and I free will, and that is what Solomon was referring to when he said, “we can make our plans”; yes, God allows us the choice of either being liberated and free through our connection to Christ or being bound and enslaved through our connection to Satan. The world that is separated from Jesus believes that sounds ridiculous, and that God is punitive, He is controlling, and living by His standards is unrealistic and narrow minded. A heart that is hard, that has never allowed Jesus in or has turned away from Jesus, will read the second part of Solomon’s Truth as God (the Lord) “requires or demands” that He determines a believer’s step all because “He is a controlling God”. Friends, that cannot be further from the Truth. The Apostle Paul tells us that through our salvation, and when we used our free will to hand over our hearts to Jesus, that we were set free (Galatians 5). Free from the bondage of our sins, free from our souls (minds, wills, and emotions) being trapped by the darkness of this world, and free from Satan who wants to destroy our spirit that was created by God and longs to be connected to the living Word of God, Who is Jesus.

Grace for the Heart: Only by knowing Jesus and living a life for Him can we begin to allow the Holy Spirit the room to move within us so that we can truly see with our spiritual eyes the Truth. Friends, Jesus wants to connect to us all of the time and He does that through the Holy Spirit. So, we must use our free will and choose to get closer to Him, He tells us, ‘You are my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free’ (John 8:31-32). Jesus wants to liberate you and me, He wants to set us free all of the time, we are the ones who use our free will to quiet the voice of the Holy Spirit, to dim the Spirit’s Light of Truth that shines within and through us, and thus our hearts turn away from Jesus and His grace that He wants to pour out onto us.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT)

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Challenge: The Apostle Paul tells the Church, ALL of the CHURCH, not just those who attended and were listening back in Galatia or in Corinth, but each any every member of Jesus’s Church, His Family, so that means that he’s talking to YOU and ME when he said that Jesus is the Spirit, He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, and so wherever the Spirit is…that means in YOU and ME…that there is freedom! “So, Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Galatians 5:1) or in slavery to our old sin. Stay the course with Christ, stay in His Word, and share with others about His liberating love.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for allowing us to choose You. Holy Spirit, thank You for never giving up on us. For knocking on the doors to our hearts, for giving us spiritual eyes to see the Truth, and spiritual ears to hear the Truth. Please keep drawing us closer and closer to Jesus. Use our testimonies to share about our freedom in Christ and how we are eternally connected to His love. We ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Convicted of Sin

Digging for Truth: Many people want to talk about the emotional manifestations of the Spirit—things like peace, holy laughter, love, wisdom, speaking in tongues, but those things, although really wonderful, pale in comparison to the real work of the Spirit which is to convict God’s children of the sin of unbelief in order to bring righteousness. When we do not honor what Jesus came to do in our lives, it is the sin of unbelief. Believers listen to the Helper and grow spiritually mature in Christ’s character.

This past week we have been looking at how the Helper provides grace for every day living; things like protection, stirring our remembrance of God’s Word, establishing new desires and healing us from bad habits and he does so by convicting or convincing us of error or sin, as well as empowering us to make better choices. The Helper can be very persuasive as he opens our ears to hear God’s words of affirmation, instruction, and discipline.

Grace for the Heart: When I was in my thirties I had an encounter with the Spirit of God that left me forever changed. One day I was praying and crying out to God, because I was physically very ill and had been so for about one year. As I was praying, I felt like an electrical charge ran through my body and I was filled with an amazing sense of lingering peace. An inward voice, although not audible in my physical ear, spoke a question, “Do you know it is me?” I answered aloud, “Yes!” My Spirit recognized the Voice and authority of my Helper. Up until that time, I knew about the Spirit, but I did not understand the indescribable blessing he would become in my life as he opened my eyes to see and my ears to hear the Truth.

Sometimes people can get so focused on the emotional manifestations of the Spirit, they spend all their energy going from one encounter to another like a spiritual high was the best of the Spirit’s work. True, there is nothing like having an awareness of God’s presence in us or tasting his anointed power, but life with God is not all warm and fuzzy; God has serious work to do in our lives and disciplining our character is part of his plan. Do you believe?
John 16:7-9 NLT 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.

Challenge: The Helper convicts us because sin keeps us bound from the things of God—so he comes to free us. Unbelief and disobedience keeps us enslaved; it quickly takes dominion. No matter what sin or unbelief tries to rob us, we must trust the Helper to deliver us. He is all powerful for those who believe.

Prayer: Lord, to know you is to trust you to do the things in us that we cannot do for ourselves. We thank you for the convicting and convincing work of the Spirit who leads us toward the Truth of Christ and all he desires to bring our lives. Sometimes we are enslaved to things we do not even realize, so please liberate us Holy Spirit and draw us closer to righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: Transforming Bad Habits

Digging for Truth: According to Jesus, in order to experience salvation and see the Kingdom of God, we must be born again (John 3:3). To be born again is not about human life being developed to a higher level. It is about leaving our old life behind—crucifying it by denying it power—and walking in the new life of the Spirit. Our original state of sin that we asked Christ to forgive must be forsaken (Matthew 27:46).

Jesus—the Righteous Son—left his heavenly eternal throne and glory to accept the limitations of being human in a sinful and temporal world. As fully human, the Son would experience pain, only be in one place at a time, need food, rest, and sleep, and pray to connect with the will of the Father. When we are born again, Jesus condescends to our messy hearts in order to tabernacle with us while transforming our lives through the divine Spirit. This means our bad habits must be denied power; as human beings we have certainly developed and fed them.

Grace for the Heart: We must allow the growth of Christ’s righteousness—the fruit of the Spirit—within us. Think about the transformation that would take place in human lives if our nature was permeated with “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 4:22-23). In order to bear this fruit, we must experience a transformation of our habits.

We will never be able to break bad habits because a religious organization lays out a list of purity laws for us to follow. We need deliverance. Our bad habits must be transformed; we invite the Helper to make us uniquely new in Christ’s nature and image. Remember, when the Helper places it upon our hearts to bring change to something that is unrighteous, he also brings the supernatural power of heaven for the transformation. It’s like a great spiritual exchange: we offer to God an unrighteous habit and he grows a new righteous one in its place. Transformation: a dramatic change in nature and character by the power of God.

Matthew 3:11 NLT 11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Romans 6:4 NLT 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Challenge: Jesus came to bring Israel (One who struggles yet prevails with God) into a new covenant relationship. “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33 NTL). Only God can make us righteous sons and daughters.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the invitation to be released from habits we know are unrighteous before you. We are never forced to allow the transformation and for that graciousness toward us we experience freedom of choice. Your love is never a burden, but our bad habits are a weight holding us back from your glory. So, Holy Spirit, please help us to give you permission to continue the transformation journey in us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: New Desires

Digging for Truth: It is the work of the Helper to transform our fallen human nature into the nature and character of Jesus—the Son of God. Although all Christians cling to the plan and promise of salvation by grace through faith, there is something missing in our understanding if we do not spiritually see the purpose of God’s plan. The veil of spiritual separation from God has been torn through the sacrifice of the Christ; now, we can see God wants us to choose to be conformed to the image of His Son. I only know my heart and only God knows yours, but for me now that I understand God’s purpose for salvation, I know there needs to be a change in my desires. Salvation is not a stamp of approval over the practice of sin in my life, it is an invitation to place my sinful desires on the cross and trust the Helper to shape me in the character of Christ by giving me new desires.

Grace for the Heart: In the beginning, God created perfection, positioned humanity in his design, gave us a purpose, and invited us to live in his plan. But, we have the freedom of choice, so we decided to live by our humanity not God’s life and divinity. Therefore, we fell into deception and became separated from the One who offered us his glorious nature.

When we come to Christ, the glorious riches of our King are deposited within us and the work of the Spirit to form us in the holy nature and character of Christ begins; we are reborn of the Spirit. The Helper begins to fill us with new desires and new goals for human life. We live for Christ and the salvation of his world. For this reason, we do not live as new wine in old wineskins; we must allow the process of what Scripture calls sanctification. The Westminster Catechism defines sanctification as “The work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” Catechesis is the practice of teaching the Christian faith. This is a progressive process as we learn to live in the power of the Helper and grow in grace for the pleasure of God and the victory of his plan.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Challenge: Spiritual perfection will not happen until Christ returns for his Bride, but we must understand the work to be done in our lives. Grace is not an apology for our sin, it is the power to live with new desires that bring divine righteous change to our sinful human nature. The Helper stands ready and we must be willing. David cries over his sin and turns to ask for the help only God can provide. “You will do everything you have promised; Lord, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun” (Psalm 138:8).

Prayer: Lord, help us trust you and your purpose for salvation and the sanctifying work of the Helper. We can remain children, or we can be led by your Spirit and become sons and daughters who radiate the love and grace of our King. Holy Spirit, please fill us with new desires and bring the power to live by them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lenten Series: In Need of The Helper

Lent is a liturgical observance and season of reflection; not a biblical mandate. It is simply a time to remind ourselves and appreciate the abundant grace of Christ’s saving work on the cross. It is a time to press in deeper in submission to Christ’s authority as we prepare our hearts to celebrate, with exceedingly great joy, the resurrection that awaits every believer and follower.

In our Lenten daily devotionals, we will focus on our spiritual needs and desires and how the Helper is our Gift for strength and success if we will bow in greater submission to the authority of our King and the terms of His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Reflection: My Memory and Mind

Digging for Truth: It is the Helper who brings the teachings of Christ to our remembrance. The Spirit seeks to renew our minds and give us “muscle memory” for the righteous commands of God; to lead and guide us in our new life in Christ (Eph 4:23). However, that is not all. The Helper can bring to our remembrance anything that is beneficial for us as Christ’s followers. Grace is provided and grace is practical, because God knows we need ongoing help to live in a sinful and self-destructive world. For this reason, the enemy attacks our minds in order to diminish the promise of Christ to provide peace of mind and heart, as well as bear our human burdens. If Jesus is Lord of our hearts—ruling according to his will—the Spirit will renew our minds, and help us stay in a place of inner peace.

Grace for the Heart: When I was working on my M.Div in seminary, there was just so much information for me to absorb and remember. It seemed overwhelming at times, but the Helper was always there to stir my thinking. The information was stored in my brain, but I needed help finding the “files” at just the right time! The Helper remained with me to stir my thinking and knowledge, because he understood my needs and willingly helped me bear the burdens I carried by becoming involved in my life. We must guard ourselves from thinking God is only interested in religious or sacred things, because Jesus died to bring us the grace to live successfully in a hostile world that consistently responds as a thief. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17).

John 14:26-28 NLT 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”

Challenge: Do you believe God wants to carry all your burdens and give you rest? Pray and ask the Lord to help you in every task and to lift the burdens or loads each day brings. He brings supernatural strength for our memory and minds that we do not fully understand until ask the Helper for it and experience it. We must stop limiting God with our present understanding, because he wants to take us deeper into a mindset for Kingdom living. “Honor and thanks be to the Lord, Who carries our heavy loads day by day. He is the God Who saves us” Psalm 68:19).

Prayer: Lord, please forgive our spiritual ignorance, because we can easily forget just how much you have promised to provide for our daily living. Whether we face challenges in little or big ways, you are the Helper we need. Bring to our remembrance the promises and blessings you have for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.