A Prayer to Deepen Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit - Your Daily Prayer - January 15

The song “Spirit of the Living God” by Meredith Andrews has always been an absolute favorite of mine. It ushers me into a posture of stillness with Jesus, anchors me to the truth of who God is in my life, and helps me take a step back to see the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.

God was so kind and faithful to send us a helper. Not just any helper, but the holy, perfect, and righteous spirit of Christ. A helper who gives us the power to see others as Christ sees them. A helper who gives us the ability to have peace amid storms raging all around us. A helper to convict us when we’re wrong and bring us to a place of repentance.

When He was getting ready to go away, Jesus told His disciples “…[W]hen the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” John 15:26

What a gift this message was to the hearts of His disciples and what a gift this message is to you and me. Often, believers wonder what is like to “hear” from the Lord. I would say one of the most prominent ways we “hear” from God is the way He prompts our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. The promptings of the Holy Spirit are ones that draw us in more closely to the heart of God, while also calling us to “go” and take the message of Christ to those around us.

When I think of someone, aside from Jesus, who truly understood the power of the Holy Spirit, I think of Paul. Paul, who was formally Saul, had one of the most powerful conversion stories in the whole Bible. Read Acts 9:1-19 with me...

"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened."

What a story, what a wonderful Savior we have in Jesus. There is so much that shines throughout the conversion of Paul; it attests to the power of the Holy Spirit of God. We first see Christ's pursuit of Paul's heart. While Paul was headed to kill the people of God, Jesus met him, stopped him, and saved him.

Next, we see Paul's immediate response to Jesus in verse 5 was, "Who are you, Lord?" Paul responded in reverence to Jesus, even though he wasn't walking with him. When Jesus told him what to do and where to go, not only did he obey, but the men who were traveling with him also responded, in their shock, to what they had just encountered.

Then the Lord spoke to a man named Ananias, and told him what he needed to do when Paul arrived. This man, out of the fear of God, obeyed and did what he was called to do. As he laid his hands on Paul, he received the Holy Spirit. The scales fell from his eyes, and he was baptized.

The Spirit of God radically transformed Paul's life. As we deepen our walk with Jesus, the same happens for us, too. We cannot help but be radically transformed because of Christ in us. I pray that you'll find yourself seeking Jesus with reverence and with a posture of urgency. An immediate response to God shows a radically changed heart and a heart radically changed by Christ, changes the lives around them!

Let's Pray:

Jesus, thank you for sending us the greatest helper. What a gift it is to have the Spirit of the living God within us. Leading, directing, and protecting. Radically changing hearts and transforming lives in an instant. I praise you for the work you did on the cross and the un-measurable gifts we have because of you. Help me to grow in my walk with you and seek the promptings of your Holy Spirit. I pray I will take time each day to stop and listen for your Spirit at work in my heart. Help me pour through the scripture to know your word, that your Spirit might speak to me through it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Chelsey is the author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World and the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and she writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/AaronAmat

Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.

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