A Joyful but Surprising Thought

  The Holy Spirit stays with us continually, and He invites us to live with an awareness of His presence. Margaret Therkelsen in her book Realizing the Presence of the Holy Spirit, tells that years ago after reading in Revelation 7 of the praise in heaven, she entered into a time of deep worship. She was filled with praise and humbled herself as she saw Jesus as the victorious, risen, and triumphant Lord of lords.

After this time of tremendous love and praise began to fade from her heart, she heard the Holy Spirit say something unexpected. "Margaret, you will actually bow before Him one great day, but for now I don't want all your thoughts of Jesus to be external, outside of yourself. He is transcendent, but I want you to come to a deepening reality of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within you at this present time."

Then the Holy Spirit brought to her mind scriptures that speak of the indwelling of God's Spirit.

"He lives with you and will be in you" (John 14:17).

"He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21).

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23).

She wrote, "I realized I had been too focused on God as being outside of me and not enough on God within me."

The thought that we are to become more aware of the Holy Spirit within us has been a joyful thought to me.

Dear Jesus, help me not to ignore Your Spirit within me.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

 Memory Verse for June   

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you...O Great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds" (Jeremiah 32:17-19).