Devotional of the week: Gold dust in the skies

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… 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.” (John 14:22–31)

When I was at university I received a lower grade on a literature paper than I had expected. The professor told me to read the work again and go for a walk while musing on it. I followed his instructions and rewrote the paper, but evidently I didn’t receive any flashes of inspiration. My mark remained the same.

Those moments of knowing and understanding, which I lacked as I labored over my literature paper, we receive by the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus here promises will come and make his home with us. Not only will he teach us all things but then will remind us of them later. He knows our limitations, and even our forgetfulness.

I often miss the Holy Spirit’s wisdom when I haven’t quieted the competing noises and voices around me. They may be actual voices, like the sound of my sweet daughter playing downstairs. Or they may be the hopes, longings, and fears that we keep bottled inside. Or they may be the anger and bitterness we harbor after being wronged. Or they might simply be the distractions of daily life, like what we will make for dinner or the leaking faucet that needs to be fixed or the phone that continues to ring.

We can stop for a few moments, remember that Christ lives in us, and ask for his Spirit to show us the way. As we rest in his presence he will bring us the word we need, whether an assurance of his love, the knowledge that he is leading us, the healing balm for our hurts or the inspiration and answer to our dilemma. As we quiet ourselves, he will shower down his wisdom, like flakes of gold swirling down from the skies.

Join me in seeking his peace and wisdom.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me to enter into the deep quiet and know your wisdom and truth. I seek you in all that I do today. Thank you for your presence in and through me. Amen.