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And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30

Recommended Reading: 1 John 1:8-9

Everyone knows what it feels like to experience grief or pain and to inflict grief or pain on another person. Ephesians 4:30 is an important verse about the Holy Spirit being a person rather than an impersonal force. Only a person can be grieved.

To determine what can grieve the Holy Spirit, we only need to read the verses surrounding Ephesians 4:30. Paul warns against unwholesome speech (verse 29) and actions such as bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice (verse 31, NIV). Instead, we are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward others as God is toward us (verse 32). So acting in a carnal or sinful way can grieve the Holy Spirit, but acting like God—being “imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1)—will please the Holy Spirit. What should we do when we know we have grieved the Spirit? We must confess our sin and receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).

Don’t delay confession when you realize you have sinned and grieved the Spirit. It is the only way to continue to experience His filling.

We may grieve the Spirit as truly by not joyfully acknowledging His wonders as by not praying to Him.
Robert Murray M’Cheyne

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I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:1-4

It comes as a surprise to some new Christians that the habits, temptations, actions, and desires that they experienced as a non-Christian do not disappear when they begin to follow Christ. Man’s sinful nature is not eradicated when a person is born again. Instead, a new conflict begins between the desires of the flesh and desires of the Spirit.

The apostle Paul confessed to experiencing this conflict in his own life (Romans 7:14-25). The things he wanted to do he was not able to do, and the things he didn’t want to do he found himself doing. He declared that only through the power of the Holy Spirit could he be set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). In Galatians 5:16-25, he contrasts living by the Spirit and living in the flesh. Living by the Spirit means yielding to the leading of the Spirit and trusting in His power to overcome the desires of the sinful nature.

Form the practice daily of asking God to fill you with His Spirit; practice the discipline of sensing and following His leading.

He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scriptures in his hands has all he needs.
Alexander MacLaren

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The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:16-17

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:12-18

Christians think differently than those without the Lord. Paul said, “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). He told us to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ephesians 4:23).

When we receive Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit begins to refurbish our minds. The Spirit takes the words of Scripture and makes them real to us and real in us. He bears witness with our spirits that we are God’s children and that the sufferings of this world are not worth comparing to our future glory (Romans 8:18).

The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to face life in a different way. When we encounter a crisis, the Holy Spirit strengthens us with the knowledge of God, which gives us perspective. That provides confidence and strength to see beyond the crisis and to focus on the Lord.

If you’re facing a difficult situation, ask the Holy Spirit to give you His divine perspective.

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need. Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself.
Francois Fenelon

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But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time.
Jude 17-18

Recommended Reading: Jude 1-11

Would you devote your life to studying a book you didn’t believe to be reliable? Rudolf Bultmann, a German New Testament scholar, argued for “demythologizing” the New Testament. He believed it could speak to us existentially but shouldn’t be taken historically. Bultmann is an example of someone who poured himself into Bible study but whose heart wasn’t open to the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Academia is filled with such people today. So are pulpits.

Only those who truly know the Lord can understand His message. When we have questions and concerns of the heart, we need to take counsel from those who also know the Lord. Guard against the influence of liberal scholars and unbelieving teachers. The book of Jude warns against “certain individuals” who “have secretly slipped in among you” (Jude 4, NIV).

Even when seeking Christian counsel, go to those who truly know and love God’s Word. Take time to identify solid Christians in your life you can turn to when you need godly advice.

We call this book—and only this book—the Word of God. That is why it has supreme authority for our lives.
Robertson McQuilkin 

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And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:52

Recommended Reading: Acts 13:48-51

Earlier this year in Michigan the North Shore Police Department warned motorists that someone was placing caltrops on the highways. These are small, sharp objects meant to puncture and deflate car tires. As we all know, tires need to be filled with air; they are useless when flat.

The devil is constantly throwing caltrops in our pathway. We’re to be filled with the Spirit, but he endeavors to deflate us. Have you felt deflated recently? The normal and victorious Christian experience means being filled with the Spirit. When you’re filled with the Spirit of God, your life will be different. You will have a song in your heart, a spirit of thanksgiving in your personality, and a yearning to bless others (Ephesians 5:18-21). You’ll also have a contagious motivation to share the Word of God with others (Acts 4:31).

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your steps as you choose to have a positive influence on others. Open your life fully to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to keep you inflated and filled with His Spirit today.

The Spirit-filled life is not a deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.
A. W. Tozer

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Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.
Matthew 6:28

Recommended Reading: Matthew 6:25-30

As we step into summer, many of us take steps into the great outdoors to enjoy God’s creation in the warm sunlight of the season. Some will take hikes up mountain pathways; others will walk to the edge of canyons or to the top of gushing waterfalls. But even a walk down the street or through the park—if we will only focus—shows us lilies, daisies, billowing clouds, chirping birds, and calming breezes.

Psalm 125:2 says, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 148 says, “Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars…. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven” (verses 9, 13).

Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s invisible power and glorious attributes can be seen in what He has made. Take time to enjoy the birds, flowers, stars, leaves, plants, hills, and brooks He has made. Praise Him and know that if He cares for His great outdoors, He will also care for you.

The world was no doubt made, that it might be the theater of the divine glory.
John Calvin

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And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:5-17

When God gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle, He appointed a man named Bezalel to be master craftsman for the project. God “filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship” (Exodus 31:2-3). The apostle Paul picked up on the connection between wisdom and being filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:15-18.

Paul cautioned the Ephesians about being foolish and wasting the opportunities of living for God. He equated being wise with understanding and carrying out God’s will, exhorting them not to be “drunk with wine” but to “be filled with the Spirit.” Just as a master craftsman could not carry out his tasks if he was drunk with wine, so the Christian cannot carry out God’s will by living a wasteful and uncontrolled life. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:23).

Imagine yourself as a master craftsman, constructing a life that is pleasing to the Lord and fruitful in His work. Purpose each day to be filled with the Spirit so that your gifts and talents are not wasted.

The more we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the more we shall glorify the Lord Jesus. 
Frank Gaebelein

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Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17, NIV1984

Recommended Reading: Acts 14:8-10

The book of Acts illustrates the truths expressed by the apostles in their letters to the churches. One example is how Acts 14:8-10 illustrates the truth taught in Romans 10:17.

In Romans 10, Paul says Israel needs someone to preach the Gospel to them. He then says that “faith comes from hearing … the word of Christ.” “Word of Christ” can mean either the word(s) spoken by Christ as repeated by a preacher or words spoken about Christ by a preacher. The effect is the same—anyone preaching about Christ will no doubt quote some of Christ’s words. And those words produce faith. That’s what happened when Paul was in Lystra. A man who was crippled from birth, who had never walked, was listening to Paul preach. Paul looked at the man and saw “that he had faith to be healed” and told him to stand up—and he did (Acts 14:8-10)! The words of/about Jesus created faith in this man.

Do you need faith or know someone else who needs faith? Meditate on “the word of Christ” and trust God that faith will come.

Faith rests on the naked Word of God. That Word believed gives full assurance.
H. A. Ironside

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Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 2:8-9

When describing the birth of a newborn, we never say, “The baby birthed himself at 3:00 p.m.” Likewise, when describing spiritual rebirth, Jesus said, “Unless you are born.” That is, both human birth and spiritual rebirth are passive events for the infant. Mothers give birth to physical babies; the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual babies (John 3:5-8).

This idea is behind Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Our spiritual rebirth is not something we do by ourselves, by our own efforts. If it was, we would be right to boast. Since it is of God rather than ourselves, we can only boast about God and His grace (1 Corinthians 1:27-31; 2 Timothy 1:9).

If you have been born again through faith in Christ, give thanks to God that He has birthed you for a purpose. As the Spirit brought you into God’s Kingdom, so He will lead you and transform you.

“Except a man be born again,” he will wish one day he had never been born at all. 
J. C. Ryle

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Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11

Recommended Reading: Colossians 3:16-17

It is estimated that around three hundred direct quotations from the Old Testament appear in the New Testament. References and allusions bring that number closer to one thousand. We often take for granted how often the New Testament writers incorporate a quotation or reference from the Old Testament—especially in their conversations where they appear to be quoting from memory. And we have to remember that they had no computers or complete copies of the Old Testament to work with when writing the New Testament.

Jesus appears to quote the Old Testament around 75 times in His teachings and verbal exchanges with others. Take, for example, His exchange with the devil during His 40-day sojourn in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Three times He refuted the devil’s temptations by quoting verses from Deuteronomy. Paul quotes or alludes to the Old Testament around 75 times just in the book of Romans. How did they do this? Memorization and in-depth familiarity with Scripture.

Consider setting a goal of memorizing one verse or passage of Scripture each week. After all, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and the foundation of faith (Romans 10:17).

Memorization is the first step to meditation.
Jerry Bridges

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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 3:16, NIV

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Infusions have become a popular way to replenish fluids or nutrients in your body. At your home or at an infusion clinic, you’re hooked to an IV that delivers vitamins, minerals, and fluids directly into your bloodstream.

Are infusions available for us spiritually? If so, where can we find an infusion of strength for our souls? For that we turn to the clinic of God’s Word. In Ephesians 3:16, we learn a vital prayer to offer for ourselves: Lord, I ask You to grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in my inner being. 

The Holy Spirit was sent to us as a Helper. He comes to strengthen us. When you feel weak, ask the Lord to impart His strength.

If you’d like another prayer along these lines, use these words from hymnist Edwin Hatch: “Breathe on me, breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.”

Breathe on me, breath of God until my heart is pure, until my will is one with Thine, to do and to endure.
Edwin Hatch

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Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
Luke 1:38

Recommended Reading: Luke 2:51

Perhaps the most important thing we know about Mary, the mother of Jesus, comes from her own words to the angel Gabriel when she was told of God’s plan for her.

First, she referred to herself as a “maidservant of the Lord.” This word could be translated as “servant,” “bondservant,” or “slave.” It carried with it the idea of compulsion or obligation—that is, a role that Mary wasn’t free to reject. How did Mary come to view herself as a young woman obligated to serve God with her life? We don’t know. But we do know that her commitment to God resulted in Gabriel referring to her as “highly favored” in God’s sight (Luke 1:28). Second was her response to Gabriel’s announcement: “Let it be to me according to your word.” Once she received the amazing explanation of how she, a virgin, could give birth to a baby (Luke 1:35), there was no hesitation, questioning, or debate. Mary simply said “Yes” to God.

When it comes to submitting to God, the fewer words the better. Only one word is truly necessary: Yes.

The essence of sin is arrogance; the essence of salvation is submission.
Alan Redpath

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By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35

Recommended Reading: John 15:12-15

Far too many churches and denominations have been founded for reasons that were less than loving. Yet Jesus told His disciples that love among Christians would be the hallmark of those who follow Him. He gave His disciples a new name—He called them friends rather than servants. And a new command: As friends, they were to love one another.

If all followers of Jesus are His friends, that makes all followers of Jesus friends with one another. As mutual friends, love for one another is to be what separates Christians from the world. So serious was Jesus about love for one other that He said it would require laying down one’s life for one’s friends—which is what He did for His friends (John 15:13). Do you have a friend who would lay down his or her life for you? Are you the kind of friend who would lay down your life? “Friend” is a covenant term in Scripture (James 2:23). Under the old covenant, a true friend was closer than a blood brother (Proverbs 18:24).

Be the kind of friend you would like to have and show the world that you are a friend of Jesus.

In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, liberty; in all things, [love].
Richard Baxter

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Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
John 16:7

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:9-11

Jesus’ preparation of His disciples for His return to the Father in heaven was disconcerting for them. For three years they had witnessed His teaching and His merciful healings—not to mention His companionship and counsel. What would they do without Him?

The solution He revealed to them was new. He would send to them a Helper who they came to understand was the Holy Spirit—given to them a few weeks later at the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2). In fact, Jesus said it would be to their advantage for Him to go away and for the Spirit to come in His place, enabling them to do even greater works than He had done (John 14:12). So the Holy Spirit was given to all believers to empower the life of Christ in each one who believes (Romans 8:11; Galatians 2:20; 5:22-23).

Never forget during difficult moments: If you belong to Christ by faith in Him, He dwells in you by His Spirit.

He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scripture in his hands has all he needs.
Alexander MacLaren

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[Peter] said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.
Acts 12:17

Recommended Reading: Acts 12:5-17

The first twelve chapters of Acts concern Peter. In Acts 12, an angel freed him from prison, and he went to the home of John Mark and spoke to the disciples. Then he left for “another place.” Starting with chapter 13, the remainder of the book of Acts concerns the apostle Paul.

Where did Peter go? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but ancient traditions say John Mark led him from Jerusalem to a section of Egypt known as “Babylon” or “Old Cairo.” It was possibly the same place Joseph and Mary fled with the baby Jesus, beyond the reach of Herod. It was a place of refuge.¹

We all need a place of refuge. Deuteronomy 33:27 says, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” When we face trouble, we can retreat to our Refuge. He is always there, easily accessible. We have only to turn to Him. When everything else fails, there is still another place—His everlasting arms.

God will our strength and refuge prove, in all distress a present aid, and though the trembling earth remove, we will not fear or be dismayed.
The Presbyterian Psalter

1. Thomas C. Oden, The African Memory of Mark (Downers Grove: IVP, 2011), 118-122.

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Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6

Recommended Reading: Psalm 150

1. Sidlow Baxter wrote, “Our Lord is not a fair-weather companion only. When the dark hour comes, when the storm beats about us, when the grievous blow falls, He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother…. Our Lord is not merely a distant spectator of our concerns, far removed from us in a far-off sky. He is a present help.”

When we truly grasp the nearness of God and His involvement in even the smallest concerns in life, we’re empowered to lift up our hearts and lungs in praise. We often rely on God during difficult times, but do we also remember that He’s there during the good times as well? He’s with us in the ups and downs, and we should take time during both to praise Him for that. Are things going well for you? Praise the Lord; He is a God who sends our blessings! Are things difficult right now? Praise the Lord; He is a God who bears our burdens.

Let everything on earth praise the Lord!

Most certainly is He the helper of His people and their cause considered collectively: but He is more than the God of the multitude. Each of His people may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper.”
J. Sidlow Baxter

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Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:4-5

Recommended Reading: Lamentations 3:22-23

In the New Testament era, the most prominent theme is the grace of God—encompassing love, mercy, and forgiveness. But it is important to remember that God is our Father who is willing to discipline His children when the need arises (Hebrews 12:5-13).

There are two aspects of discipline which need to be viewed differently. One is in the form of correction for sin as seen in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32—discipline in the form of punishment. The other is discipline for the purpose of training during times of hardship: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children” (Hebrews 12:7, NIV). For His children, God’s discipline—regardless of the reason—is temporary. But His grace is never-ending: “His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life.” As the prophet Jeremiah wrote, God’s compassions never fail—“they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

If God has you in training, remember: It is only temporary. His grace and compassions fail not.

Discipline is a proof of sonship.
John Blanchard

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So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”
Luke 1:59-60

Recommended Reading: Luke 1:11-17

It was not uncommon in Israel for firstborn sons to be named after their father—for example, “Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus” (Mark 10:46—bar in Hebrew meant “son”). Therefore, when it came time to name the firstborn son of the priest Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, their relatives assumed the child’s name would be the same as his father. But Elizabeth said his name would be John—a decision Zacharias confirmed.

The angel Gabriel, when revealing to Zacharias that his barren wife would conceive a son, said the boy’s name would be John. For being skeptical of Gabriel’s announcement, Zacharias was made mute until John was born. But apparently during Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Zacharias had somehow communicated to her what the angel had said. Out of loyalty to God’s will through Gabriel, and loyalty to her husband, Elizabeth confirmed the baby’s name would be John—who became John the Baptist.

Loyalty means choosing a priority that might be different than your personal preference. Loyalty to God always comes first.

God demands complete loyalty to His Word.
Richard L. Pratt

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I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Acts 27:25, NIV

Recommended Reading: Acts 27:21-25

Scott Smiley is an American soldier who was blinded while fighting in Mosul, Iraq. In his book, Hope Unseen, he describes how he and his wife Tiffany learned to trust God with tragedy. Tiffany said, “The words that I read in the Bible prior to all of this became real. It was like oh, this is the peace that surpasses all understanding, you know, this is the hope that carries you through. So it all came to life for me. There’s still times where we’re like ‘Yeah, we wish Scotty could see.’ But God what has taught us through His word…. And going through this trial and this valley with the Lord, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”¹

When we go through trouble, we struggle, but out of the struggle comes strength. And out of the strength comes a shout of praise. Express your faith when you are experiencing a time of trouble. The action of expressing your faith aloud is often the first step toward courage and victory.

A lot of people look at the events in my life as a huge tragedy, and I don’t necessarily. I think God has given me the ability to understand Him more and to understand His purpose through my blindness.
Scott Smiley

1. Julie Blim, “Scott Smiley: A Soldier’s Sacrifice,” CBN, accessed January 26, 2026.

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On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred.
Esther 9:1

Recommended Reading: Esther 9:1-5

The book of Esther describes a plot to annihilate the Jewish people. It fails because of two brave people—Mordecai and Esther. The name of God is not mentioned in the book, but that’s the point. When God seemed absent and danger was near, the invisible hand of our Lord was working behind the scenes to save and deliver His people.

Sometimes we face danger or sorrow, and we wonder if God is near. Yes, He is! His eye is watching, His hand is moving, and His grace is available. That’s why we can be thankful even in tense times. The devil may threaten to undo us, but in the providence of God’s grace the opposite will occur.

That’s why we’re called to be thankful. In coming days, we’ll look back and see all the times and places where God has been faithful to us. Be sure each day to think of all God has done for you and ask Him to give you a spirit of gratitude regardless of the circumstances.

The Lord’s wisdom is seen in arranging the smallest events so as to produce great results. Everything, the most minute … as well as the most magnificent, is ordered by the Lord.
Charles Spurgeon

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