He Gave Us a Helper
"I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."
- John 14:16
There is a lot of misunderstanding about the Holy Spirit today. We can turn on a "Christian" television program and see some rather bizarre things taking place in the name of the Holy Spirit. But is this really the Holy Spirit?
Some of us may look at those things and say, "I don't know if I want that in my life. It frightens me." It frightens me too.
The good news is that this is not the work of the Holy Spirit. Rather, it is a misrepresentation of Him. That is why it is important to gain a biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as a helper. The word helper is translated from the Greek word
paraclete, which means, "one called alongside to help."
During the days that Jesus walked this earth, His disciples had the wonderful privilege of talking with Him and listening to Him. But then He ascended into heaven.
Jesus had promised His disciples (and essentially all followers of His to this very day) that He would lead them from that point forward in an entirely new way. This would take place through the Holy Spirit:
I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)
God's Holy Spirit wants to help you. He is there for you. He wants to do a wonderful work in your life. And He will abide with you forever.
[ Pastor Greg Laurie ]
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Taking Responsibility for Yourself
But they will have to give an account to Him Who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead.
- 1 Peter 4:5
I once had an employer who took advantage of me. He required me to work so many hours that it kept me from spending proper time with my family. I was worn out and never had time for myself. He never showed appreciation and always expected something more. If I even mildly indicated that I might not be able to comply with one of his requests, his anger would start to surface, and I would cave in and agree to do what he had asked of me.
As I was praying about the situation one day and moaning to God about how unfair it was, He said, "What your boss is doing is wrong, but you not confronting him is just as wrong." This was hard for me to hear. Like most people I wanted to blame someone else for my lack of courage. Had I not been a people- pleaser and had I not been afraid, I would have saved myself about five years of being so stressed that it eventually made me very sick. My boss wasn't my problem; I was my problem.
It is important to realize that God has given you authority first and foremost over your own life. If you don't accept and exercise that authority, you may spend your life blaming others for things you should be doing something about. You should make your own decisions according to what you believe God's will is for you.
On Judgment Day God will not ask anyone else to give an account of your life; He will ask only you (See Matthew 12:36 and 1 Peter 4:5)! What if Jesus asks you on Judgment Day why you never got around to fulfilling His call on your life? Are you going to tell Him people took advantage of you and you just couldn't do anything about it? Are you going to tell Him you were so busy pleasing people you just never got around to pleasing Him? If you do offer those types of excuses, do you really believe they will be acceptable?
[ Joyce Meyer Ministries ]
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
Today's Verse:
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours"
(I Corinthians 9:24, AMP).
Today's Word:
Many of the challenges that come our way in life are simply distractions to try to lure us from our destiny. Every day we have the opportunity to get upset-maybe someone is talking about you, or a competitor at work is spreading rumors, or a friend says something that they shouldn't have. When this happens, you have to ask yourself, "If I engage in this battle and spend my time and energy trying to defend myself or trying to prove that I'm right, if I win this battle, what is the prize going to be?" For example, if someone cuts you off in traffic and you get all upset and cut him off in return, how is that going to benefit you? You don't even know the person! What's the point? There are no spoils. That's not a battle that is worth your energy.
The reason many people are missing out on God's best is they're distracted fighting battles that don't really matter, trying to prove themselves to others, trying to win over their critics, playing up to someone, trying to get their approval. Instead, choose to keep your focus and attention on becoming more like Jesus so you can fulfill the destiny He has prepared for you!
Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, today I choose to refocus on You. I am determined to overlook offenses and choose my battles wisely. I will run the race You have set before me with purpose so I can lay hold of the prize You have for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Today's Word is dated 06.09.09)
[ Joel Osteen Ministries ]
