Responsive to the Spirit

Written by stacy

By Suzanne Benner

“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray” (1 Peter 4:7)

With Christmas over and the chill of winter settling into my bones, the easy slide into an attitude of carelessness and indifference took hold.

I was jarred back to consciousness while reading an email from a friend about a tragic event in her circle of acquaintance. Awakening me to reality, the thought entered my mind – “You could have been praying. You’ve been wasting time, doing nothing important, but you could have been praying.”

You see I’d already heard about the event, but had done nothing. Somehow, God used the written word to call me back from mindlessness.

As soon as I had prayed for these people, whom I didn’t know, God brought two friends to mind. Responding to God’s prompting, I prayed for each of these friends and then contacted them. In both situations, it was evident that a word of encouragement was exactly what was needed.

All around us are people – friends, acquaintances, people we’ve yet to meet – who need something we can give, but unless we are responsive to the Holy Spirit, it can easily be missed.

We have been called to be clear-minded and self-controlled because there is a spiritual struggle continually occurring. Prayer is the vital activity in which we have been called to participate.

Satan is fighting for control of people’s hearts and minds. Through prayer we enter the conflict, but we must be attentive to what is going on spiritually and responsive to the Spirit.

~Holy God, thank You for allowing me the privilege of being part of things of eternal significance. Help me to be responsive to Your Spirit.

Today’s Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat about this devotional at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat/

Questions to Ponder: What situations lull you into mindlessness? How can you combat a careless attitude toward things of eternal significance? Where is God at work around you?

Quote of the Day: “When we live our lives with prayer on the fringe we are really telling God that we don’t trust Him” ~ Gail Rodgers. Read the whole article: http://christianwomentoday.com/prayer/depending.html

About the Author: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/suzanne-benner/

8 Responses to “Responsive to the Spirit”

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Dolores says:

February 12, 2007 at 3:26 am

WHILE READING THIS DEVOTIONAL, THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE THESE WORDS TO ME: I HAVE LAID DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU, NOW LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR OTHERS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A PRAYER WARRIOR/INTERCESSOR FOR NATIONS, GOV. AND BODY OF CHRIST. SOMEHOW, ALL OF THESE HAVE TAKEN A BACK BURNER IN PAST MONTHS DUE TO A WOUNDED HEART. BUT AFTER GIVING MY WEAKNESSES TO THE LORD DURING WORSHIP; INTERCESSION IS BEING RESTORED TO ME; COMPASSION AND HEARTFUL PRAYERS ARE COMING FORTH. I BELIEVE THE KEY IS RECOGNIZING YOUR WEAKNESS, REPENTING FOR IT; GIVE IT TO JESUS, AND THEN TRUST HIM. HE WILL DO THE REST. THANK YOU FOR THESE WONDERFUL REMINDERS/DEVOTIONALS.
June L says:

February 7, 2007 at 11:23 am

A very good reminder Suzanne to pray without ceasing. I am retired and have no excuse not to pray each morning…but the enemy has a hold on me at times. I have a prayer book devided into 7 days. I pray for my immediate family members daily, and then my friends another day, nieces one day, etc. When I don’t pray, some of these don’t get prayed for on a weekly basis.
Father, forgive me for not taking the priviledge of prayer to pray daily. Thank you for listening, and answering every prayer that is lifted up to you. Thank you for forgiveness and a new start. Help me to pray for my enemies as well as my loved ones. Amen!
Jarita says:

February 7, 2007 at 7:43 am

As a college student, I often find it hard to pray about the needs of people around me. Lately, I have had a friend on my heart and I have put studying over praying for her. Lord, no longer do I want to be self-centered. I want to trust that you will provide me with the time to get things done. I want to allow you into my schedule, and sit still enough to feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Nancy says:

February 7, 2007 at 7:31 am

THis article so touched me. TAlking about praying for ourselves and forgetting about others in pain. I have a friend that we haven’t talked for years. THe reason, I don’t know? I’ve decided to pray for her and am prompted to send her a card or call her. Guide me Holy Spirit. THanks for the prompting.
Debra says:

February 7, 2007 at 7:12 am

God gives us an answered prayer in the midst of our inner struggles. My prayer life has been stagnant for quite some time and just this morning before I got out of bed, I lay there talking to God about my concerns and desire to change. God puts so many people on my heart each day and I just push those thoughts aside. So many people depend on me and yet God can’t depend on me to pray a simple prayer for each of these people I hold so dear. God is giving me a wake up call and I’m so thankful for a new day and another chance to make a fresh start. Thank you for your website and all of the timely devotionals. They do make a difference. Have a blessed day.
Janeen says:

February 7, 2007 at 7:02 am

I think sometimes I have blinders on and really am focused too much on myself and my concerns and not aware of the struggles around me. I remember one morning at about 2 AM, I was awakened by the Holy Spirit and prompted to pray. I felt as if something really terrible was about to happen. I prayed for my 6-month-old nephew because the worst thing I could imagine happening was something tragic with him. Then I went back to sleep. I was actually a little put out at God having me wake up and pray when I had to get up extremely early and drive over a hundred miles (partially through Denver at rush hour) to get to a class I was to teach that day. Later, as I drove to my class, I called my mother to say good morning. She told me that terrorists had just flown planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. God woke me up to pray on the morning of 9-11, and the worst tragedy I could imagine was something in my own family.

Lord, open my eyes to see You at work, and please do trust me again with the privilege of hearing the Holy Spirit’s promptings. I need Your help with my self-focus. Please make me aware of others, and give me compassion for them and their struggles so I may pray with passion for them.
Chris says:

February 7, 2007 at 6:43 am

This is one area that I also have problems with. I do say little prayers through out the day but to really sit and pray and wait for a time afterwards that is where i have difficulty. I am going to really work on this problem.
Monica says:

February 7, 2007 at 6:24 am

I have recently become a stay-at-home mom. My husband and I have our first baby (5 1/2 month old boy), and we decided I would not work out side of our home, for now. Well, as I’m sure many of you know, there is alot of “mindless” time when you have a baby. This devotional helped me realize I have so much time I should be spending in prayer. I am going to try to remember to pray during each nursing session, that would be over an hour of prayer each day.