Are you responsive to promptings of the Holy Spirit? Reading a recent morning devotion inspired me to pick up my Bible and study I Kings. My morning verse from the book of I Kings told how Elijah was told to stand on the mount where the Lord passed by, and a strong wind blew and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. I needed more information to fully understand what was happening in this Bible story. Instead of closing my devotional book and wondering, I grabbed my Bible and searched for I Kings. I read the background first and began digging for clarity on the movement of the Holy Spirit. Reading the nineteenth chapter led to reading another and another; two hours quickly passed leaving me hungry for more time with His Word. My first revelation was we gain a keener interest and understanding when we really read the Bible. I thought of all the years I’ve tried to read the Bible from front to back in one year, of times I would read without clarity or conviction, of times I would begin reading with all good intentions and fall asleep from exhaustion, of times when I would engage in Bible Studies but fail to have sufficient time to prepare, of times when I would seek His Word for comfort and it was always there. Today as I read and studied, I felt so close to God. Sadness settled in my heart, knowing God must feel neglected and agitated when we find time for all things we want to do, only to squeeze Him in at our convenience. It doesn’t have to be hours every time, precious minutes spent in the right spirit studying His Word is powerful. I encourage you to set aside a time for you, for your family to connect to God, sharing His bounty and blessings of the day, studying His Word, taking time to share prayer requests and for praying together as a family. Oh, the strength that comes to a family that prays together and is bound in the spirit. If there’s not time to give to God, we should readjust our schedules in order to stay connected and ‘in love’ with our Father and families. Amen.

The second revelation, we aren’t familiar with His Word and faithful to read and study the scriptures. Then, I thought of all the excuses the Lord has heard through the years. Summer excuses of too much to do on these long days, packing our agendas with work and pleasure, which leaves little time to read the Bible and reap the blessings of understanding the Word and connecting to the Vine doesn’t impress our Father. If we would embrace HIs teachings and treasures, our time would work in our favor instead of against us. He will order our steps and help us get even more things done when we take time for Him first. God’s favor is a blessed gift to cherish. He is all knowing and all seeing. We don’t hide anything from our Father.

We should be responsive to promptings of the Holy Spirit. God sends stirrings, answers, confirmation, warnings, calmness from the Helper. We are wise to spend time with God and nurture an intimate relationship that ensures a direct line with unlimited minutes any time of the night or day…and weekends! He may not speak with a blast of a trumpet or a mighty wind, but when you are connected to the Vine, you will hear and understand in whatever way He comes to you. It may be a touch on the shoulder, a stirring in your heart, a picture popping in your mind, a comment from a person sent by Him, words from a song, a small, still voice. Are you obedient to the gentle moving of His Spirit? He works in wondrous ways in order to develop our sensitivity. He knows our frailties. This sensitive moving of His Spirit in our lives makes us strong. In His quiet way, He strengthens our faith. We must learn to live in the presence of God. At any moment He chooses to manifest and do things in our lives that can’t be explained. We may not understand; others may mock and make light of being led by the Spirit, but we should always honor and seek God. He will stir up our spirit and lead us where we should go, give us the comfort we seek, and shower us with blessings and favor for following, trusting and obeying. When we are spirit filled, we are in tune to the Holy Spirit. When we don’t have an intimate relationship with God and communicate with Him, His voice will fall on deaf ears. We won’t understand nor will we reap the rewards of hearing from the Father. We can’t hear from Him when we race ahead; we must be led, and remember that God dwells in the unseen-not the seen. Learning to live in the presence of God is vital. It changes how we look at things as we listen to His spirit lead us. Being ‘bound in the spirit’ ensures a closer walk with Thee. Acts 20:22 tells us to ‘go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem’. When God wants you to go somewhere or do something, you will feel a connection to it. He aligns us in our spirit. When we pray hard, we will either be bound or released. Think of something you’ve done that didn’t feel just right and no peace would come, it wasn’t bound in the spirit. Other things we’ve experienced seemed to click and create a calm, a closeness to Christ that gives you than inner GPS confidence of knowing where you’re going. Last weekend I was led to The International Christian Women’s Conference in Greensboro by such promptings of the Holy Spirit. Elanor Bradshaw, a prayer partner at Tim’s Gift, invited me to this phenomenal event that takes place only once every four years. The enemy sent detours at every turn to keep me from going. My son lovingly scolded me for taking on too much when I entered his office to kiss him good bye. Cameron’s words were true; yet, I knew God had my back, so I headed where He was leading with Dr. David Jeremiah’s teachings on Revelation keeping me alert while driving, and God’s grace keeping me awake and aware of where I was headed. I was AWAKENED and keenly aware of God’s goodness when we follow where He leads us. The blessings and bounty He sent to me, my sister and her family, Elanor, her pastor, and local sisters I met, from the Christian church, is a beautiful story I am eager to share with you…in His timing.

Being bound in the spirit has its sure signs. Are you open to change and a willingness to step out of the boat and go where God leads. Being surrendered shows Christ you are broken and bold in your witness. Surrender to Jesus; stand firm and faithful in your relationship with Him. Do you pray for what God wants to happen or what you want? These are characteristics of being ‘yeilded and still’ and open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

How do we know it’s the real thing? There are some things we just know, like believing in the wind even though we can’t see it. We must believe in the Holy Spirit even though our eyes don’t behold His presence. He lives within our hearts. We feel God and know His spirit is the real thing. We are led by the Spirit. By the same token, we know when it’s not real by the way we feel inside. It’s counterfeit when we don’t get peace and promise in our hearts. In II Corinthians 2 :12-13, we are taught about discerning the spirit. “… a door was opened but I had no rest in my spirit.” In other words, if it doesn’t feel right, it’s not of God and the spirit is prompting you to steer clear and sail away from wherever you are about to dock or venture into. No rest in your spirit means back up and begin again…with Him leading you where He would have you go. His sweet spirit gives rest to the weary and peace that protects our tomorrows. Just a closer walk with Thee opens the door for the Spirit to dwell in you and me. When you feel God’s sweet spirit tingling and ringing, awaken for the end of this world and eternity He is bringing. Amen.