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 the things that I said to you. JOHN 14:26
The Holy Spirit’s other name is Comforter. That is my favorite name for the Holy Spirit. The word comforter is a Greek word, paraclete, and it is the same word that is translated “encourager.” The Holy Spirit is my Encourager. He comes and puts His arm around me when I am discouraged, and He encourages me. Yes, there are times when this pastor loses his perspective a little and becomes discouraged. I may have actually slipped into depression once or twice (not recently, thank the Lord). It’s the same with anyone in leadership; sometimes you feel as though there is hardly anywhere to run. You just have to get alone with your Bible, get down on your knees in prayer . . . and then the Spirit of God comes to bring encouragement to your heart. I’ve had that experience time and again. It is almost (almost!) worth experiencing the dark and heavy times because the encouragement of God’s Spirit is so sweet. I praise God that the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Encourager and Helper.
Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening
It's sadly taken much of my life to learn that when storms stir that my first response should be Peter's response. To cry out first to my Savior.
We all tend to look within ourselves for solutions to life's problems.
We try to lean on past experiences. Try to text or call someone. Even spending hours online looking through WebMD or somewhere else.
Problems are often precursors to a deeper reliance upon Christ.
Problems are often what had been the last straw in most everyone coming to Christ for salvation.
Problems rob us of joy of peace of a host of positive experiences.
I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit refusing to leave me or abandon me to myself.
We don't have a part-time Savior. We don't have one that sleeps or is too busy somewhere else. We don't have one that neglects to fulfill His promises.
I will confess that depression often isn't far from me. It's not a great distance away when problems arise and those problems appear to be overwhelming.
Satan's tried on many occasions and at least one time in particular to either get me to end my life or to end it himself. Depression was the precursor to that time I considered suicide. Thank God the Spirit was there that day. He's been a lot closer every day since. He's not just a Encourager or Comforter, He's a Spiritual Surgeon.
In some of the darkest times in my life is when the surgeries took place. Removing things that unbeknownst to me were a hinderence to coming closer to Christ.
Words can fail me if ever I could speak of all that He's done in my life. If I could even remember it all the real list of things that I am unaware of would be greater,
The hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms comes to mind.
How long has it been since you were close to God?
Jim Reeves sang a song "How Long has it been". Can you gladly say it's been as close as this moment we share right now?
How long has it been since you talked with the Lord And told him your heart's hidden secrets
How long since you prayed
How long since you stayed On your knees till the light shone through
How long has it been since your mind felt at ease
How long since your heart knew no burden
Can you call him your friend
How long has it been since you knew that he cared for you
How long has it been since you knelt by your bed and prayed to the Lord up in heaven
How long since you knew that he'd answer you
And would keep you the long night through
How long has it been since you woke with the dawn and felt that the day's worth the living
Can you call him your friend how long has it been since you knew that he cared for you
Simple but powerful questions.
Right now, even now, we face much in this world. Now is the time to cling to hope in Christ Jesus.
Now is to hold fast to His promises. Now is when the right time is to cry out to Him.
What's keeping you back?
No comments:
Post a Comment