Today as I pray, recovering from a fever, I find it hard to initially connect with God. The things and cares of this world have become more real inside of me in the last two days. I notice how easily the things of the world can overcome the inner life of the Spirit. It is like the ferocious attack of weeds in the tropics invading the garden that took so long to clean up!
As I offered my mind to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit my prayer was, “Holy Spirit, give me back the wisdom of heaven, so that I may see the realities of this world through your eyes”. Then the Spirit begins to show me why He is called the counselor!
He shows me that His leading in my life is not simply to meet my needs and make me happy as I understand it or want it to be. His purpose is higher. He is leading me and preparing me to receive a reward and a life that is eternal. Therefore the safety and security that the Spirit can provide me is greater than my own defense systems. Though my defense system tries it’s best to protect me and meet my needs, it can’t prevent me from growing old or dying one day. It can’t defend me from things unseen and beyond my control. Yet it tries to defend me and prevent me from surrendering completely to God!
When the Holy Spirit makes me aware of my limitations and my foolishness, my internal defenses let go into the loving hands of God. The leading of the Holy Spirit is the best answer to my every need, desire and aspiration. Even if He has to lead me through worldly discomfort, rejection and pain, He will be my internal comforter and strength. Even death to self and ego outside will be transformed into life and energy at the level of the Spirit!
Then the Spirit leads me to Jesus. He invites me to look at Him as the one and only role model for my journey through life. St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 2 speaks of the inner journey of the Lord. Though He was equal to God He let it go to become a human, then a servant and finally a slave obedient unto death itself. Yet the Lords trust of God the Father and the leading of the Holy Spirit was not in vain. St. Paul says that He was raised up above all things to the right hand of God. God will ultimately do infinitely better and more than our limited defense systems! This awareness given to me by the Holy Spirit leads me once again to total abandonment into the hands of God in complete trust with a heart full of peace, joy and love.