I got in trouble in the second grade and had to go to the cloak closet! Everybody knew what that meant - the big wooden paddle with holes drilled in it! And there weren't doors on the closet so everyone listened. It was time to turn our work in and I could not find mine so I took my cousins, who was in my class. We had the same last name so that would be easy! She had big, beautiful, light handwriting. I had skinny, ugly, dark handwriting from bearing down so hard or as my teacher called it, "chicken scratch." So I just erased her name and put "Jill". The teacher said that my cousin's homework was missing and until someone came forward no one was going out for recess. I looked around like everyone else did to see who would come clean. I don't remember the rest of the details except I had to go to the cloak room. And then when I got home Mom gave me another spanking! My mom was a teacher and she backed whatever they said! It was a two for one special.
God also gives us a two for one special. When we choose Him to be the Lord and Savior of our life, we get the power of the Holy Spirit! What is so special about having the Holy Spirit? There are lots of reasons but here are a few. The Holy Spirit helps us understand God's Word and will draw us to what we need to hear. This has probably happened before and you may or may not have known it was the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2: 10, "these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God."
I have often heard the first ministry of the Spirit is to convict us of sin, which is keeping us from God. The Holy Spirit will bring our sins to light for us. John 16: 8, "When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment..." I use to think that I knew all my sins but I have learned that the Holy Spirit can keep showing you more! And He does it without taking you to the cloak room and embarrassing you! The Holy Spirit also acts as our conscious. Have you ever got ready to say something that, honestly, you know you shouldn't say and all of a sudden you stop. That is the Holy Spirit warning you, leading you, nudging you. The Holy Spirit lets you know something is not right.
The Holy Spirit guides us. I have shared many times that the Holy Spirit has laid someone on my heart. You get that person on your mind and you keep thinking about them. I believe those are nudges from the Holy Spirit to pray for that person. I usually call or text and check on them. Many times, I have heard. I needed this, thanks for reaching out. Well, that was the Holy Spirit, not me! I believe the Holy Spirit leads us all day every day. He leads us to a person, to a place, to a thing. All while working on His divine purpose. I believe He opens doors and slams them shut. When Paul was doing the Lord's work, God did not let him to to the place Paul wanted to go. Acts 16: 6, "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia." Or as it is said in the NKJV, "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia."
He wants whatever is best for us. Jeremiah 29: 11, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"
Life is so much easier when we let the Holy Spirit guide us. We have a 24/7 personal guide! And if we trust it can take so much stress out of life. Psalm 37: 23, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him..." Joyce Meyer said, "Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple, joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by the Holy Spirit, not the traditions or expectations of man."
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