Touching Base 18
The Holy Spirit’s presence and work in our lives often appears mysterious. What are you learning about the Holy Spirit that is helping you to experience His power in practical ways?
Take a moment to reflect upon all that you read and experienced this week. If necessary, go back and read the lesson or devotionals, by clicking on an item in “Quick Links.”
Quick Links
Empowered by Christ Lesson 5: Spiritual Breathing
Unfailing Love
Our Sin is Forgiven!
The Tomb is Empty
Love for Jesus
That You May have Life!
Reflection
This week’s lesson introduced the spiritual discipline of “Spiritual Breathing.” A spiritual discipline is a habit or regular pattern in your life that brings you back to God and opens your heart and mind to God’s direction. Campus Crusade for Christer founder, Bill Bright, practiced “Spiritual Breathing” on a regular basis as a way of getting back “in step” with God’s purposes for his life.
When you breathe, you exhale impurities, and inhale pure air and oxygen. In “spiritual breathing,” you “exhale”–by confession–sin, and “inhale”–by faith–the Holy Spirit’s control.
Exhale: Confess your sin–agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it. Confession involves repentance–a change in attitude and behavior.
Inhale: By faith, surrender the control of your life to the Holy Spirit. Trust that He now directs and empowers you.
Did you take time to try experiencing the Holy Spirit in this way? If so, in what ways was it beneficial to you? If not, why not? Consider making this a regular practice in your life.
Beth Yoe’s devotional this week based on a passage of scripture in John 20 was entitled, “The Tomb is Empty!”
How often do you think about the reality of Jesus’ resurrection?
What difference does this fact make on your daily life? On your decisions? On your interactions with family, friends, coworkers, strangers?
In what ways is your life being changed because of your relationship with Jesus?
The birth, life, and death of Jesus made an impact on the world like no other person ever could or did! What impact on the world are you making because of the difference He has made on your life?
In what ways is God stretching you? How are you responding to that stretch? Are you joyful, thankful, frustrated, angry? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to respond to God’s work in your life with a grateful heart!
Go a Step Beyond
Here’s this week’s recommendation for an additional resource to strengthen your knowledge and conviction about Jesus rising from the dead:
Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
Write It on Your Heart
Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.” (Colossians 3:1)