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Romans 5:5 tells us, “And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
If we allow Him to, the Lord will use everyday things to speak His words of wisdom to our hearts. Once while I was cooking my favorite soup, He gave me a wonderful illustration to ponder. You see, the world is suffering through many illnesses lately: Covid-19, stomach viruses, allergies, colds, flu, and more. When illnesses like these surround us, it is more than enough reason to cook a big pot of life-giving chicken soup.
Chicken soup is full of flavorful, healing components, but only if it is the real thing. It needs to be made from the whole chicken with lots of fresh vegetables and herbs.
However, when you have a sore throat it is hard to eat anything. Sipping smooth, warm soup broth is nourishing but please, no chicken and veggies because they will irritate an already swollen throat.
Once the broth is done cooking, you must pour the soup through a strainer so all of the vegetables and chunky pieces of the chicken are held back. Only the shimmery liquid passes through. With it goes all of the vitamins, minerals, and probiotics; the healing components.
Sometimes our lives can be like that. Sometimes things won’t go the way we plan or purpose. Kids will get sick and plans will be delayed. Obstacles will come and we must choose how we will react. We can either chew on those seemingly appealing bits of chicken and carrots (emotions, flesh, peer pressure, and judgment) that cause further irritation or we can sip on what brings life.
Of course there are times when we might want to whine or complain, but after hearing what God whispered to me I decided to rest in His peace instead. Sometimes we can think of many reasons to exhaust ourselves with negative emotions but we must resist giving the devil that foothold.
What God whispered to my spirit while straining that soup is this: Every decision we make goes through a filter. We call that filter the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says, “But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14
“If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” John 7:38
When you use the Holy Spirit as a filter for all of your decisions, you receive life. Just like when a mother makes life-giving soup for her sweet babes, our Father in heaven offers us life-giving water. We only get that if we use the filter of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord, please help me today to walk forward in Your Holy Spirit with a renewed spark of commitment. Please speak to my heart and remind me to filter all things through your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Creating a Beautiful Life by Elizabeth George—Each new day presents opportunities to grow your faith, manage your work and goals, and make good use of the time God gives you. This book for busy women will help you create a more beautiful and productive life. Click to learn more about Creating a Beautiful Life, the book.
Have you been listening for God’s voice in the everyday mundane circumstances? What has He been whispering to you?
Every decision we make goes through a filter. We call that filter the Holy Spirit. When you use the Holy Spirit as a filter for all of your decisions, you receive life.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
How did men and women in the Bible accomplish great things for God? There wasn’t any secret formula or bestselling book on success for them. In fact, they were ordinary people like you and me. What made them effective was their willingness to obey God—one decision at a time.
