By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Spirit

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

God gives so many good gifts, it’s hard to nail them down in a few words. I could write pages about how good God is. Because God is only good, the gifts given to us are only good.

Fear cannot exist when we are full of the spirit that God gives.

“…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7 English Standard Version

God does not keep us in bondage but instead provides only freedom, and with that freedom, is the opportunity to be in relationship with Jesus.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 English Standard Version

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to move with no anxiety, moving in a way that is full of light and freedom.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version

This is not a guilt trip if you are dealing with anxiety, but hope that there is another way in your journey. There is no end to the pain and suffering in this world, but we can lock in to God and override the worldly system we were born into.

God says that peace is possible in all circumstances, not just sometimes, but all times.

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16 New International Version

God is so good, all the time, even when we are suffering, Jesus is suffering with us, and when we are victorious, the Holy Spirit is winning. The connection with God is unique to human beings; we get the unique opportunity to be full of the same spirit as God, made in the image of God, and unite our bodies, souls and minds to God in a way that no other creature is able. What a privilege! When we keep our eyes only on the suffering of the world or of our own pain, we miss the opportunity to connect with the creator of the universe who is constantly attempting to connect with us and attempting to help us traverse the pain.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado