You Don't Have to Shout!

Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 2-3

Scripture Focus: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?  In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.  We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2.11-12, NIV)

Devotional Thought: Sometimes it's good to know what someone else is thinking.   Sometimes it's not.   I’m glad that people can’t read my mind!  And, I’m just as glad that I don’t know what they are thinking about me…

But, I am glad that God knows what I am thinking.  I'm also glad that I can know what he is thinking.  That’s right!  We can know what God is thinking by the Spirit he sends us.  I am so grateful that we have received the Spirit who is from God.  Jesus told his disciples, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14.26).  The Holy Spirit’s presence, Jesus said, is absolutely critical in our lives.  As a matter of fact, the Spirit’s presence and ministry is so important, that we are better off that Jesus returned to the Father, that the Father in turn may send us the Spirit (John 16.7). 

You don’t have to guess about what God is thinking.  Just ask the Spirit within you to reveal it.  He does that through quiet thoughts in your mind, through the Word of God, through the counsel of Christian sisters and brothers, even through current events and circumstances.  We just need to be listening!

A friend of mine once made the comment that as he has grown older, the Spirit’s voice is more subtle in his life.  Instead of thunder and lightning, there are hints and whispers.  You see, when the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and as we get to know his voice, God doesn’t have to shout.

Prayer: Lord, may I be able to say to you, "You don't have to shout."  Grant that our conversation may become more and more intimate.  I love you, Lord!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 109.16-20

16 For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be farfrom him!

18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day!

20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, of those who speak evil against my life!