“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit
for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit” (1
Corinthians 12:7-8)

The Holy
Spirit is the One who guides and directs us. Insofar as it helps, use the
guidance of others, but do not make the mistake of thinking that they are the
ones leading. Just as there is One Lord, there is One Spirit who unites us in
the One Lord, Jesus Christ. Come then into the Holy Spirit’s leading and go as
the Spirit leads that You may live into the life to which You have been called
by grace.

This world is filled with ideas about how to live life. We
have teachers and those who guide, but there is only One Spirit who has been
given that we might live in the unity the Lord is creating by grace. Do not
seek after what will tickle your ears, but come as the Spirit leads into the
faith given once for all. The gifts of the Spirit will come as the Lord directs
and according to His will.

There are
many conflicts in my mind and practice. Come Holy Spirit and kindle in me the
heart of Jesus that I would live into the life for which You are directing me. Let
nothing hinder Your guidance in my life that I may now and always abide in the
truth of Your presence and be led by You in all things. May I not live just for
myself, but be led by You in all things to the glory of the Father. Amen.

“And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There
are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons”
(1 Corinthians 12:5-6).

The Lord
created each person according to His purpose. We are not all the same, nor are
we to imagine anything other than that we are to be conformed to the image of
Christ. Do not be deceived, it is the Lord who builds the house. If it is not
the Lord, then it is in vain. Come into the Lord’s presence and be led by the
Holy Spirit that you may live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

Lord, we so often want to categorize things and make plans. Help
me to return today and every day to You that I may be led as You lead. Guide me
that I may walk in Your purpose and live as You have designed me to live. May I
no longer resist Your direction, but come willingly into Your presence and
dwell with You and You with me. Help me to hear and obey that I would learn to
be faithful.

Lord, guide
me according to Your eternal plan which You have revealed by grace and through
faith. Enlighten me by the power of Your Spirit that I may grow in the grace
You have given me. In all things, may I see that it is You who works all things
together according to Your purpose and live into the life to which You have
called me, doing all this to Your glory. Amen.

“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the
Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”
except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same
Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3-4).

The greatest
gift is the awakening that comes as a gift of the Holy Spirit in which one
knows that Jesus is Lord. Those who curse the Lord do not even know whom they
are cursing. Walk in the gift you have received and know that in the Lord alone
is all hope and the fulfilment of His promises. Be guided by the One who saves
and listen as the Spirit speaks.

Lord, You are speaking to me and I am often confused by the
things of this world. Guide me in the way of truth that I may now and always
listen to what You have to say. Lead me in Your goodness and cause my eyes to
be opened to the way of the world which tugs at me to do other than what You
are teaching me. In You alone is the hope for all people and apart from You is
the continued rebellion.

Holy Spirit,
You have awakened me to the truth that You are God and there is no other. You
know my heart, for You have searched it. You know the direction I need to go. Lead
me in the truth of Your word that I may now and always abide in You as You
abide in me. You know the direction I need to go and You have already prepared
the way. Guide me according to Your will to walk as You lead. Amen.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led” (1 Corinthians 12:1-2).

Concerning
how the Holy Spirit works in our lives, we ought not be unaware. The Spirit
moves where it will and always for the sake of all that needs to happen. Walk
in the ways of the Spirit and know that the Lord is always with You. Be guided
by God’s goodness and do not stray back to the ways of the wicked. Live into
the promise which is yours through the grace of Christ.

Holy Spirit, lead me in the ways I should go. Remove from me the hindrances that keep me away from godliness and holiness. Help me now and always to be clear in action and precise in thought. In all things, never let me forget that it is You who must lead me. This world is constantly calling me back to itself. Keep my thoughts and deeds clear and true to the calling You give.

Lord Jesus, You came not only as the One through whom grace is possible, but also as the model of the godly life. Lead me, Lord, according to all that You have taught that I may walk in the light and be guided day by day into the life to which I am being called. Guide me according to the Father’s will to see the foolishness of this world and live for that which lasts. Amen

“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in
adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him,
“Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.” (John
8:3,4)

We love to
catch others sinning as if it were some kind of novelty rather than the rule of
our sinful existence. We love to lift up the sins we do not commit as the ones
that are especially heinous. Then we love to go to the Lord and show that we
are better because we are not that kind of sinner.

Lord, help me see that any and all sin pits me against You
and, in effect, causes me to nail You to the cross once again. Grant that I
would truly see the travesty in every sin and not get caught up in the game of
separating sins. Help me also have compassion, as You have compassion, on
everyone caught up in sin.

Thank You, Lord
Jesus, for responding to every sin by dying on the cross for us. Help me see
that reconciliation is always better than retaliation. Grant that I would live
into a life that is like Yours in every way, reacting in wisdom to situations
as You do, beginning with today. Grant that I live out compassion and mercy
this day in Your Name. Amen.

“But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning
He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He
sat down and began to teach them. “ (John 8:1,2)

Jesus
attracts people to Himself. As many as are willing, He will draw them to
Himself and teach them. It is no different today. You who have faith simply
express that faith in daily living, reading Scripture, listening to the Lord,
growing and understanding more about the eternal will of God the Father.

Lord, like other sinners, I resist doing what I know is right and therefore agree with Paul that I do not do as I ought, but do the very thing I hate, agreeing with the law. Help me, I pray, to learn how to be still, sit down with You and know that You are God. Grant that I would change my habits to include time with You.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for always taking time with Your disciples. Take time with me today and help me to take time with You that I may learn and grow. By Your example, help me to take time with others that they may learn as I share with them what You have taught me through Your Word. May You be glorified this day through me. Amen.

“They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you?
Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Everyone went to his
home.” (John 7:52,53)

A little
information is a dangerous thing. It has been misleading the faithful from the
beginning. If you go to Scripture to prove something wrong, you can probably
find what you are looking for (in a wrong way). But Scripture must interpret
Scripture. People with an agenda are often blinded by that agenda. But the
truth always remains true.

Lord, help me be diligent in my search for the truth You
reveal. Grant that I would not stop short, nor listen to those who do not
believe. Instead, help me grow in understanding that I may live into the faith
You have given me. Guide me in knowing what is true and then help me hold fast
to what You have revealed.

Thank You
Lord for the faithful who would not be intimidated by those who were led by
their father, the devil. Grant that I may hold fast to the truth You have
revealed to me this day, sharing with others boldly what You have said. May my
mouth speak faithful words, knowing that You have all truth. Amen.

“Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them)
said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and
knows what he is doing, does it?” (John 7:50, 51)

Those who
use the law to their own ends are often willing to violate parts of it. Nicodemus
shows that he is an honorable man. Do you see where the Founding Fathers got
the principle of innocent until proven guilty? The Lord desires that we be
fair. It is in the law. Even though there are evil people, so also, the Lord
has those in whom truth dwells.

Lord, help me to be a fair and reasonable person. Help me see when the crowd is being misled and then grant that I would be bold to stand up to those who are seeking their own ends. Grant that I can learn to understand the greater uses of the wisdom You give through the law so that, like Nicodemus, I can stand up to those who seek to do wrong.

Guide me today, Holy Spirit, that I may live this day with wisdom. Grant that I would be bold when facing what is wrong. Help me to be a help to others and stand up for those who are wrongly accused. Grant that I would be a bold witness of my loyalty to Jesus, no matter what the cost may be. Amen

“But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” (John
7:49)

Unbelievers
do not know what we know, so there is no way they could know the truth. A mob
may not be intelligent, but individuals are. Those who have an agenda often
bully their way through things because they actually believe they are superior.
Jesus calls for each of us to be humble and gentle in spirit.

Lord, I have bullied with a superior attitude before. Help
me learn to be gentle and humble that I may be like You. Let me not become
overly concerned when others do not agree with me, but instead help me always
learn and grow in Your wisdom. Help me to know, but also to never become
afflicted with pride because I do know.

Thank You
Jesus for standing firm. You who knows all things accepted the bullying for our
sake. I know You do things that will surprise me, but help me to trust in You
no matter what may come. Grant that I would live today standing up to those who
try to intimidate and hold fast to what You have shown me is true. Amen.

“No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has
he?” (John 7:48)

If the
leaders do not believe, then it couldn’t possibly be true. This kind of
thinking has always been around, a peer pressure of rulers. If your rulers do
or do not believe, then this establishes what is true. The atrocities in human
history come about because people let others think for them. Bottom line: what
about you? Is Jesus your Lord?

Lord, I get tossed about by the winds of this world. Help
me, I pray, to be firm in the truth and listen only to the words of reason. Grant
that I would not be led astray by falsehood or deceit, but would instead follow
You alone who has the words of eternal life. Grow in me a firm conviction that
is unyielding in the face of pressures to believe lies.

Thank You,
Jesus, for the gift of Your Word. In the grace You give, I have been set free. Help
me today to live firmly in the revealed truth, no matter what any others may
say. Help me not waver, or back down from what You have revealed. May the Holy
Spirit move boldly through me today. Amen.