Breathe - Grateful to be the Temple

 This morning I am feeling overwhelmed. 

This is common for me, a nearly everyday occurrence. But I’m starting to find my way through it.

I’m learning to find help - the best help there is. It’s God. 

When I was much younger, God felt very distant. He was somewhere “out there”, and he was watching us and deciding if we were doing a good job of living or not. But he wasn’t close. Oh, how wrong I was!

He’s right here, everyday. He’s closer than my breath. It’s what he promised us, that he would be with us - forever, to the very end. He promised never to leave us or forsake us. The reference for that promise is in the Bible. It can be found in Deuteronomy 31:8. 

When Jesus was getting ready to leave this earth, he promised to ask the Father to send us a Comforter, his Holy Spirit, and he said that the Holy Spirit would never leave us. The Bible also teaches that we human beings are walking temples. Not a stationary building, but a walking, breathing temple for the Holy Spirit to abide in. And he stays with me. He comforts me. He counsels me.

The Holy Spirit is such a perfect Friend!

I’m finding the beginning of my peace today by taking time to feel gratitude, and to count the various wonders and blessings that I can call to mind. And one of those has been gratitude for the friendship of God through the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for bringing sensations of peace. Thank you for your tenderness and your actual affection for me. I feel your hug today. I love your grace and the way you help put things in perspective for me. I love how you remind me about the Father’s character and the promises that have been made. 

I love how you are always available, and you never act impatient with me or seem annoyed at how needy I am. You express and communicate delight at being with me and helping me to face life’s challenges everyday. 

You celebrate the victories that I am coming into, and you are always calling me forward into the next challenge, teaching me how to overcome rather than be overcome by everything around me. 

Thank you for being here! Thank you for being completely and totally reliable. Thank you that you see me inside and out - nothing is hidden from you, and yet you still remain and are actively bringing me into a life that is beautiful and reflects your glory and holiness.

I am so grateful!