Dear Ones,
Hope you have a good day with an openness to the Holy Spirit.  I had a wonderful afternoon yesterday as a friend invited everyone to her apt who desired to make greeting cards; tables were full of card stock and embellishments, and I made 13 cards. Such fun! Today we are invited to friends for the afternoon of fellowship. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
I have realized more and more how much I need the Holy Spirit, and I often pray that I can hear His voice speaking to my heart. We get a lot teaching about God and Jesus but not so much about the Holy Spirit who is the third person of the Trinity. The disciples needed the power of the Holy Spirit when Jesus left this earth and were told to wait for Him. We read the miraculous things they did in His name after they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. We likewise need the Holy Spirit to be poured out on us afresh to guide us, renew us, give us power, and to help us actualize the presence of Jesus.  I love the song:

Come Holy Spirit, I need Thee
Come sweet Spirit, I pray
Come in Thy strength and Thy power
Come in Thine own gentle way.

How do we respond to the Holy Spirit when He is poured out upon us? Hopefully, we welcome Him and listen to Him and obey as He directs us. Sometimes we are like children who disobey in small ways and think it does not really matter, but each time we disobey, it makes it easier to disobey again and again. Gradually we become dull to the Spirit’s voice and end up going our own way continually. But there is deep peace if we welcome Him and listen and obey. When we catch ourselves compromising or disobeying even in small things, it is good to quickly ask for forgiveness.

A few days ago, I asked you all the question, “Recall a time you felt the Lord correcting you and how did you respond? Did you see fruit later?” I want to share one of the responses I received. “To answer your question from yesterday: Many times, God has convicted me of something and when I act on it, hard as it is, I am usually brought peace and sometimes reconciliation. One instance when I was a supervisor I offended a woman under me by my actions. I thought I was justified in what I did because what she did wasn’t on the up and up. The Holy Spirit convicted me, I had overstepped. I apologized to her, and she was surprised and accepted it. We became closer after that. God is a loving disciplinarian, and correction brings growth and blessing. Growth in my trust in Him and His great faithfulness and blessing in the lesson learned and relationship mended.”

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you not to compromise or disobey even in small things and obey the Holy Spirit.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy