LUKE 11:13

"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

TO PONDER

I sometimes think we undervalue the gift of God's Holy Spirit. Perhaps I can demonstrate this with a simple question, how often do you pray and ask God to be renewed/refilled with his Holy Spirit? I know I have prayed for healing for myself and for friends and family on numerous occasions, some have been healed, others have not. I know I have prayed often to God to help me through difficult circumstances, and whether I recognised it at the time or not, I am still here today and doing okay, so I suppose God answered those prayers in some way or another, but certainly not always as I had hoped.

Yet when Jesus talks about fathers giving good gifts to their children, he connects that to God giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. There are two things I want to say about that.

Firstly, when we ask God for good things, we have to remember that he has already given us many good things. Our salvation through Christ's death and resurrection surely first among them but also shelter, food, friends and family...God already gives us so many good things, many which we take for granted, many that we simply do not recognise.

But secondly, it seems that there is something about asking that is also important. "God is pleased to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" is what Jesus said. Wouldn't it be sad if you missed out on the fulness of what God has for you simply because you did not ask? Don't get me wrong, there have been times in my life when I have felt as though I were being explicitly led by the Holy Spirit, and other times when I am ashamed to admit, I have failed to God where the Spirit of God might have been leading me. Being led by the Spirit of God is not always the easy path, but it is always the best one after all, the Holy Spirit is one of God's good gifts to those whose faith and trust are in Jesus.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Today I ask you to renew me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to be aware of Holy Spirit's leading and prompting me throughout the day and give me the courage to follow where your spirit leads so that I might not miss the good things you have in store for me, and so that my presence might bring your good things into the lives of others. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle