Verse
Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
— Ephesians 4:30 msg
Thought
The first time I read this verse about grieving the Holy Spirit from "The Message," I was stopped dead in my tracks. Yet the more I thought about this paraphrase of the passage, the more I was convicted that the emotion, passion, and straight forward language is true to the sentiment of Paul's original words. "Don't break his heart ... the most intimate part of your life ... Don't take such a gift for granted." Wow! The way I think and act and speak directly impacts the heart of God and reveals my own feelings for God, because the Spirit is God and the Spirit is God's personal presence within me and the Spirit is working to transform me to be more like Jesus. So dabbling in sin, saying hurtful things to others, and distorting the truth does more than just hurt others as I degrade myself; these actions break the heart of God!
Prayer
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for grieving you, the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not displaying you, Jesus, the goal of life. Forgive me for not honoring you with my words and my actions, Most High God. I do not want to wound your heart, O God, or take your presence within me for granted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
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Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
— Ephesians 4:30 msg
Thought
The first time I read this verse about grieving the Holy Spirit from "The Message," I was stopped dead in my tracks. Yet the more I thought about this paraphrase of the passage, the more I was convicted that the emotion, passion, and straight forward language is true to the sentiment of Paul's original words. "Don't break his heart ... the most intimate part of your life ... Don't take such a gift for granted." Wow! The way I think and act and speak directly impacts the heart of God and reveals my own feelings for God, because the Spirit is God and the Spirit is God's personal presence within me and the Spirit is working to transform me to be more like Jesus. So dabbling in sin, saying hurtful things to others, and distorting the truth does more than just hurt others as I degrade myself; these actions break the heart of God!
Prayer
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for grieving you, the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for not displaying you, Jesus, the goal of life. Forgive me for not honoring you with my words and my actions, Most High God. I do not want to wound your heart, O God, or take your presence within me for granted. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2016. All rights reserved.
