Dear Ones,
Happy weekend to you! Hope yours is filled with good things. Today is party day here so we will be going to Costco for the cake. Only 4 birthdays this month but always the community room filled with well- wishers!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
When we walk out our Christian life, we are meant to enjoy the journey and know that our Father has many gifts to help us live in close relationship to Him. The Holy Spirit is the most precious gift given to each believer to help us be attentive to the Lord and empower us to live for Him and follow His plan for our lives. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:15-17, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the word cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Sometimes the Lord may bless us with a spiritual director that helps us live our faith as we deal with times of dryness, distractions and darkness. A director doesn’t tell us what to do but points our attention to the Holy Spirit and asks us open-ended questions to help us discern what God is saying to us. The director listens carefully, and his questions and comments help us to be more prayerful and open to however the Holy spirit would lead. He is not judgmental but is open to all the ways the Lord works and will keep confidences. Our part is to be open and willing to talk about our spiritual lives, our prayer experiences, questions we have, and a desire to be changed and to grow. We want to know how God is wanting to lead our lives.

I am only a spiritual friend but not a spiritual director and I have not had training as Al has. When we lived closer to the cities, pastors and others drove up to our parsonage to get spiritual direction. One pastor’s wife surprised us and came along with her husband who Al was going to meet with downstairs. I proceeded to give her coffee and asked her what she desired that day and she said she came for me to give her spiritual direction. Oh my! I prayed in desperation, and the Lord answered and gave me questions to ask her and guide her. We filled the whole time seeking what God had for her and praying. But I still am not a spiritual director as Al, but sometimes the Lord may put us in a role that is needed.

May each of us be open to times we may be ripe for spiritual direction and lead us to someone who can help us open our hearts wider to the hear the Lord and respond.

Challenge for today: When going through times that may seem dark and confusing, be open to finding a spiritual director.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy