Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
I think the neatest part about having the Holy Spirit as my Advocate is that He is always there directing me. I pray. He knows my heart. Then He directs me so I don't have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. That's where His peace comes from. Living a life for Him, 24-7. Knowing what He wants of me gives me peace. I still go through stressful times but I don't get mad over situations or give up because the Lord is guiding me. Woo hoo!
Peace is not the way of the world but it is the way of the Lord. When we realize we don't have to fret over everything but rather can give it to the Lord, we will receive His peace. The way of the world is to manipulate people or situations in order to get our peace. The way of the Lord is to allow Him to work through those same people or situations. It is then we will receive true peace, His peace.
As I think of the many people who are going through these holidays with the loss of a loved one, dealing with a spouse or a child with an addiction, having a loved one seriously ill, dealing with not having a job or loss of hours in a job….I pray they will find His peace. The only way to find His peace is to know Him and be in relationship with Him. The only way to be in relationship with Him is to give up self and allow Him to work in and through us.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your peace. I praise You Father for the way Your Holy Spirit gave me peace Saturday with the situation with Mom. I praise You for the direction You gave me. Lord, there are so many people hurting in this world. I pray for Your peace to overtake them in a mighty way. I praise You for being My Peace. Amen.
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