Indwelt
But when he, the Spirit of truth,
comes, he will guide you into all truth.
John 16:13
Harvey was small as cats go. But what
she lacked in size she made up for in spunk and speed. When it came
to playing she was quick, decisive, and relentless. No matter what
you dangled in front of her, she would attack until it was secure in
her grasp.
Yet Harvey knew when to rein in her
aggressive nature. In this she was unlike any cat we ever had. When
our children, Eric and Lindsay, were toddlers, Harvey displayed a
gentleness reserved only for them, which was never more evident than
when we played ‘Hide and Tap’, one of Harvey’s favorite games.
Harvey would crawl into a large
brown-paper bag, where she would bat at my finger as I tapped the
outside of the bag. Her split-second response was amazing; more times
than not her claws would streak through the bag, laying claim to my
finger.
But even more amazing was that if one
of the kids tapped on the bag, Harvey never moved. My wife and I
marveled at her uncanny ability to discern the difference between
adult and child. We have never been able to explain this phenomenon,
but believe it is quite possible her gentleness with Eric and Lindsay
was God-inspired.
†
I do not believe God indwells animals.
I do, however, believe only God could have provided the discernment
that kept Harvey’s sharp claws from harming our children.
Conversely, God's Holy Spirit indwells
every man, woman, boy and girl, who makes His Son the Lord and Savior
of their life, with His Holy Spirit.
This indwelling is the link by which we
communicate with our Heavenly Father. He is the Voice inside us
that confirms in approval, or convicts in disapproval, our
thoughts and actions; that little catch in our spirit, His
still, small, voice saying something is right or wrong.
He leads us on a road with many
intersections and detours, giving us a heads-up to where dangers lie,
and where God would have us walk. Without the guidance of the Holy
Spirit we travel aimlessly through life without God’s truth in our
hearts, never knowing the peace and comfort that comes from being
indwelt.
Prayer
“Thank You for Your Holy
Spirit, Father God. May I always remain sensitive and responsive to
His guidance. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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