The Spirit of Truth – John 14:16

15“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – 17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. John 14:15 -17 (NET)

In verse 16, Jesus talks to His disciples at the Last Supper. He tells them He is leaving but assures them He will not leave them alone. God will send another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, to guide believers in Jesus’ truth.

Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

The Spirit of Truth is another name for the Holy Spirit, who is the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Trinity includes God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our advocate. When we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. The Holy Spirit guides, helps, and comforts us, living within all believers. He teaches us to follow God’s will and stays with us always, offering wisdom and peace, especially in hard times. With His help, we can tell what is true and what to believe. The Holy Spirit keeps us connected to God.

The Holy Spirit, our advocate, empowers us, comforts us, guides us, and helps us grow in faith.

^15-17“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

John 14:15 -17 (MSG)

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Thank You, Lord God, for Your grace upon us. Help us to be led by the Spirit of Truth, to be guided by Him. Help us remember You are always with us. As the three daisy flowers bloomed together, may we bloom in faith and rely on the Holy Trinity. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

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Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Paul is explaining behaviors that Christians should have in their lives when they let the Holy Spirit lead them. These behaviors or attributes reflect Christ. Nine characteristics make up the fruit of the Spirit. They are not separate fruits but one indivisible spiritual fruit.

These nine traits or behaviors are found in a child of God and display the nature of Christ.

To live by the fruit of the Spirit believers, have power and compassion to lead with love, and serve others with patience, kindness, and goodness. Spiritual joy gives strength and rejoicing during difficult circumstances. Peace is inner tranquility, freedom from anxiety found through faith. Self-control is not being easily provoked but being patient, forgiving, and forbearing. Gentleness is being kind, tender, and caring for one another. Faithfulness to others is being reliable, dependable, and honorable to others. These spirit-filled attributes make up the fruit of the Spirit.

Through the fruit of the Spirit, being motivated by love will lead us to care, kindness, goodness, forbearance, self-control, and gentleness, in service to others.

22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your grace and love. Help us to follow Jesus and listen to the Holy Spirit. Let us be Spirit-lead and manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Like the geranium grows and flowers in the light, let us grow in faith and spread Your light. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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Spirit in our Hearts- 2 Corinthians 1:22

21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV)

To the Corinthians, Paul explains that when we accept and stand firm in Christ, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This means that God claims us as His own and recognizes us as His children.

With the Holy Spirit, we can have confidence in our salvation and trust in God’s unfailing love. The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, given to us as a deposit, a promise, and a guarantee of His faithfulness. A promise that assures us of eternal life and peace through Jesus. Jesus, His son, who died for us while we were still sinners.

God puts His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, a promise, a guarantee of His faithfulness. Assuring us of eternal life and peace.

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace to us. Thank you for putting your Spirit in our hearts. Let us be guided by Your Spirit, drawing closer to You. Like the violet plants spread and grow in the sun, let us spread Your Word and grow in faith. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Pray in the Holy Spirit: Jude 1:20

²⁰But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray. ²
Jude 1:20 (NIRV)

People sometimes find prayer difficult and are uncertain about how to pray. Prayer is a conversation with God, it doesn’t need to be rote or complicated; it just needs to come from the heart. The Holy Spirit is our Intercessor, and Advocate gives us strength and guidance when we are unsure of how or what to pray. In Romans 8:26 Paul states: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words.” Our job is to open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, our teacher, and helper. To follow God’s Word and pray empowered by the Holy Spirit.

When you are confused, scared, or uncertain of how to pray, do you listen to, and let the Holy Spirit guide you in prayer?

Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for giving us the Holy Spirit to guide and help us in our weakness. Our Father, we are blessed to be able to communicate to You, our wishes, hopes, fears, and thanks in prayer. Like the peony bloom flourishes glowing with morning dew, help us to flourish in prayers and glow with Your love and compassion. Teach us to go and grow forward in faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ holy and mighty name. Amen

I will be taking a short writing break, back in a couple of weeks with more flower along with 😊 new puppy photos.😊

Poured Out: Romans 5:5

Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 (ISV)

Prayer: Lord, like these flowers glow in the sun, let your love glow through our actions. Let our hope remain open and bright like the coreopsis blooms. Let us blossom in your love. In Jesus name. Amen.

Devotional: Our God is awesome, He is a God of Love. He not only loves us, but He is Love. God loves us because of who He is not because of who we are. In the Bible, God showed His love for sinners. He healed them, ate with them, and forgave them. Jesus never turned away anyone who came to Him for forgiveness. When we confess our sins, He forgives us. We often put roadblocks into place by not feeling worthy of His love, but God is love!

What roadblocks are blocking you from hope?

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