Chapter 11 :: God is Our Help

Good morning ladies! 

I don't know about you, but I've been really encouraged by this chapter on the role and work of the Holy Spirit. And good thing too. I kicked off the New Year yesterday with quite the mixture of being filled with the Spirit and functioning in the flesh. I got the chance to share my God Story and encourage another gal down the road to eating disorder recovery. But, that evening Joel and I got into a skirmish about something really silly. How encouraging it is to know that the Spirit IS in me, counseling me, pointing me to Jesus, and convicting me of sin-- and hope you will be too. 

Wendy summarizes this chapter very well in these words from page 111... 

I have four questions on my mind for you to contemplate today...

• After reading this chapter, what is the Spirit's role?
• Like Wendy, I find myself often wishing that Jesus was with me in the flesh. However, He says in John 16:7, "It is to your advantage that I go away." How should this Truth practically play out in our lives?
• Wendy mentioned a variety of scriptures about the Spirit's role (check our Romans 8, which describes the workings of the Spirit some more). Which scripture passages were you most encouraged by? Write them down and spend some time thinking about them even more!
• Check out Eph. 4:29-31 and Wendy's discussion of this passage on page 111. Are there any ways in which you are grieving, quenching, or resisting the Spirit? Spend some time praying and ask that the Spirit would convict you of your sin and encourage you towards Christ. 

Father, Thank you that your mercies are new today and that your faithfulness is great. We are so thankful that you've given us your Spirit and thank you that if we are in Christ there is no condemnation, that you've set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8), and that we no longer have to live in the flesh but can live in the Spirit. Thank you for adopting us and that now we can cry out "Abba, Father!" to you. Help us to trust that you are working in us with the same power that raised Christ from the dead. We love you and need you desperately today. Amen.