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1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (NIV)
Seven dogs bring a lot of the outside in with them during every day of every season. During the winter, the snow comes in stuck to feet and legs. It's mud during the spring, bugs and dust during the summer, and dry leaves and sticks amidst the fall. All that stuff from the outside coming in can cause me a lot of extra work when it comes to keeping the house clean. One of the habits that I have cultivated, however, which prevents a lot of the outside coming in, is to groom each dog quickly with a comb appropriate for their coat, before they enter the house.
Likewise, if we are not alert and careful, we, too, can pick up a lot of unwelcome debris from the outside world and bring it into our lives, the temple of the Lord, wherein dwells His Holy Spirit. Inappropriate attitudes, language, humour, thoughts, and even actions can all attach themselves to us, often slowly and in such a way that we become unaware of their intrusive presence until one day we discover that our lives have in one area or another begun to stray far from the path of Christ's walk and ways.
There is, however, something that we can do about this, if we will cultivate the habit of daily asking the Holy Spirit to inspect our lives and to point out and help us to comb out anything and everything that does not line up with God's will and way. By so doing, the Spirit is able to impress upon us where the unwelcome debris is coming from: certain television programs, movies, the Internet, reading material, friends or acquaintances, hobbies, unhealed wounds, an unforgiving spirit, or our own desires which do not line up with God's will and way. There are many, many things that can and do inappropriately influence us, but the Holy Spirit knows everything, and He is able to make us aware of and free us from all of them, if only we will let Him.
Today, may each of us set the ongoing goal of letting Him.
Prayer: Father God, what an awesome truth and privilege it is to be a temple for Your Holy Spirit. Bless each of us with the desire to allow Your Spirit to inspect our lives daily and then to honour You by obeying the things that He tells us to do, that our bodies may be holy and welcoming places for Your presence. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.
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Saturday, October 5, 2024 – In Ghana — Getting in and out of Tumu is no small feat, needing a lot of prayer. The road is like an obstacle course as you dodge all sort of vehicles, animals, people, potholes etc. It's exhausting, yet it is totally worth it because this is where my home is, where the people I love live, and where God has planted my heart. Praise God for the many miles He has kept me safe on the roads. Pray for my people to give their hearts to Jesus.
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Another good one, Lynne. Be safe.
So true Lynne, thanks and God bless!
Really helps me, today, Lynn. Thank you.
Thanks, Lynne. I agree. We are what we put into our minds.
Yes, Lynne let’s comb the detritus from our lives with God’s Holy Word. Thanks for sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.
I can relate. I have two long-haired dogs with skirts and long hair on their tails. Daily grooming is a necessity! Even living in town, there’s leaves and burrs and snow and dirt. Thanks.
I love every word I read from all contributors…. but you seem to hit the nail on the top of my head every time. I so needed that this morning.
Thank you, Lynne.
Hi Lynne
That is a great analogy, which is so apropos as we reflect on the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Blessings my friend.
Dear Lynne,
This devotional was an answered prayer to me, a second confirmation (the first one I got yesterday while reading God’s Word).
Thank you so much and may the Lord bless you!
Dear Lynne,
We have a golden retriever here for a month of vacation. We certainly appreciate what you have said about the clean-up before entering the house. This analogy is so well made in your writing today as we all need to allow the Holy Spirit to clean us up.
Thanks again.
Good morning Lynne,
Thank you for another special devotional. You have written a great analogy of cleaning up the debris brought in by the dogs and how seeking our Lord though the Holy Spirit can clean up our inner soul. Our loving Saviour is so forgiving when we seek Him and ask Him to cleanse us from unrighteous thoughts or ideas. Heeding to the word of scripture gives us a clean path to follow for sure.
Blessings for the writings you submit for the devotionals.
Good morning Lynne,
What a wonderful analogy you give me to help me to remember to ask the Holy Spirit to comb out what needs to be removed from myself. When I brush the dog or wipe her paws, it will be a good reminder to seek out God’s help in my own body. I really can’t imagine having seven dogs, but I guess it can be thought having have seven times the love that I get from one dog. Thank you for sharing. Your title made me wonder what your devotional was going to be about, and I did not guess right. Blessings.
Dear Lynne,
I agree that we need to be so careful what we let stick to us aware, or unaware. We don’t want “the outside coming in.” Your example with the dogs coming in is very helpful. Blessings.
The worst ones are those you convince yourself are God’s will when actually they are your will.
Such as: Does God really want you to chair that committee or is it your will to be “important”?
Thanks as always for helpful insights.
Thanks again for yet another meaningful and thought-provoking Devotion. I always enjoy your Devotions and once I read the first paragraph, I know you are the Author.
Keep up the excellent Devotions.
Blessings.