There's a Hush - Day 313 Month 11-8 Week 43-5

There’s a Hush

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)

2 Chronicles 35:20-36:23, Job 31:29-32:6, Micah 2, 1 Peter 1

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2035%3A20-36%3A23%2C%20Job%2031%3A29-32%3A6%2C%20Micah%202%2C%201%20Peter%201&version=NASB1995


“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8 NASB1995)


I have not seen Jesus, but I love Him. I have not seen Jesus, but I believe in Him. That’s the thing about faith. Recognizing the truth about Jesus without having actually seen Him is part of what faith is all about. We can experience Jesus, though. The Holy Spirit is at work among us. We can’t see the Holy Spirit, but He can prompt our hearts and bring conviction. If we are willing to listen and pay attention, we may sense His prompting. But we must be willing.


I was providing tech at a pastors’ conference a number of years ago. One of the speakers at the conference was discussing how to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit during preaching. His explanation went something like this (it’s been a bunch of years, so I don’t remember everything).


When you are preaching, there are noises throughout the room. It can be coughs, sneezes, someone dropping something on the ground, children fidgeting, babies crying, etc. (I’m sure in today’s world he’d also say cell phone notifications, but this was in the 1980s.) Very often, though, there will be a moment when it all stops. There are no irritating noises. It’s just a hush that is present. He suggested that this could be a moment when the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts and lives of the people listening.


This can happen when I’m praying or reading the Bible. If the Holy Spirit is trying to say something specific to me, I may very well zone in on a section of Scripture.

It happened to me this morning as I was reading. It was the Scripture I quoted at the top of the page. I didn't recognize the Holy Spirit highlighting it, but I zoned in on it, read the rest of the passage, and then I prayed. I said, “Lord, I don’t know what to write about today,” and immediately, I knew I had to reread that verse.


I suppose that if the Holy Spirit drew my attention to that verse, there is a simple point to be made today.


If you open your heart to hearing the Holy Spirit, He may be prompting you to make a decision or impressing something important upon you. If you are not a Jesus follower, maybe He’s pulling at your heart to turn to Jesus. If you are a Jesus follower, maybe there is something the Holy Spirit wants you to pay attention to.


When you open your heart to listening to the Holy Spirit, you may discover that He is drawing you closer to Jesus. And isn't that what faith is all about? Loving and believing in the One we have not seen.


Have a great day!

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com


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