Listen:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).
Reflect:
I struggle to trust God with my prodigal children. Lately, however, the Holy Spirit has been strengthening my faith. For example, he highlighted Luke 18:1. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never give up.” Now when I enter the throne room I have a new confidence, “Lord, I remind you of scripture—YOU said to not give up!”
Sometimes, though, the fear for my children’s eternal destiny can really overwhelm me. Like the time I received news that a friend’s son was killed in a car crash. I went into shock and grief for my friend. But then, for several days terror consumed me that I could lose one of my sons. By early Sunday morning I fell to my knees and said, “God, I know that you do not want me to live in fear. Please give me a word I can hold on to!” Then I rose and went to church.
During worship, suddenly these lyrics startled me: What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good. Wasn’t I that troubled soul and wasn’t this my answer? Tears came to my eyes. Oh, how kind of the Holy Spirit to answer so quickly! Yes, I will trust that God is good even if the worst were to happen.
Recently I awoke early and found myself praying for my children but worrying again. Just then my alarm came on with Chris Brown singing, I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered. I smiled, “Thank you for this immediate encouragement, Holy Spirit!” I’d never heard the song before and began to marvel as the line repeated over and over and over. The humor of the Holy Spirit treating me as “dense” was not lost on me!
Prayer of Response:
“Lord, I wait for you; you will answer, oh Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15). Amen and Amen!
Questions to ponder:
- What are some ways the Holy Spirit has comforted you in a time of anxiety?
- What are some rather immediate answers to prayer that you have experienced?
- What scripture comes to mind that has helped you trust God more with the prodigals in your life?
These are the two songs that blessed me so much:
Christ our Hope in Life and Death
—Submitted by Ruth Wood
Ruth is a US/Swiss citizen and lives with her husband in Oregon. They have two grown sons, two lovely daughters-in-law, and one very spoiled grandcat. Ruth works as a Licensed Professional Counselor and enjoys blogging at EspressoForTheHeart.org.