Two-minute read.
Jesus didn’t leave us hanging. When He ascended to heaven, He left us with the Holy Spirit. Christ’s officially delegated representative makes His presence real to us. Instructing us from within, the Spirit teaches us and reminds us of the Savior’s teachings. Impressing God’s commandments on our hearts and souls prompts us to obedience. Unless, of course, we ignore the nudges, which everyone does at some point or another. Thankfully, we have a God of second chances who will bring the situation up repeatedly until we get it right.
Writing a devotional the other day, I quoted a book I’m reading. At the time, I didn’t give the author credit when I wrote it. But as I continued writing, I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to go back and properly note the sentence. When I write, I do a “first draft” putting my thoughts down on paper, then go back and edit. But in this situation, I didn’t want to forget to give the author their due, and the Spirit prompted me to do so quickly rather than wait for editing. And so I did, making sure to give proper credit for the quote.
Why does that matter? By crediting the author, I maintain my integrity, not taking credit for someone else’s work. As a writer, I know how much time it takes to create something out of words. A skilled author makes writing look easy, and as if it took no time at all, but in reality, it took hours and hours of learning and effort. Therefore, I want to make sure people get the proper credit for their work, and I hope they will do the same for me. But whether they credited me or not doesn’t matter as much as ensuring I do the right thing. The Holy Spirit’s prompt helped build my integrity and strengthen my character.
Striving to become more like Jesus only happens when we follow the Spirit’s prompts. Christ cared about the small things, and so should we. We must accept our imperfections and strive to do better each day the Lord gives us. God knows we will never acquire perfection, but He does want us to try to improve. Clothing ourselves in Christ leads us to new life, which causes us to deny ourselves for the sake of others. If we tune in to the Holy Spirit, He will lead us on the path of righteousness, one step at a time. Only when we listen to the right instruction will we discover right living, and by doing so, discover the freedom that comes from following Christ.
Journal Questions:
How do you experience the Holy Spirit’s prompts?
How has the Spirit taught you lately?
In what ways can you become more in tune with the Holy Spirit?
Application:
Thank God for His help and comfort.
