Prayer Tip--The Holy Spirit in the Hebrew Bible
Daily Scripture
Exodus 31:1-3 (CEB), Judges 6:34 (CEB), 1 Samuel 16:13 (NRSV), Isaiah 61:1 (CEB)
The LORD spoke to Moses: Look, I have chosen Bezalel, Uri’s son and Hur’s grandson from the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the divine spirit, with skill, ability, and knowledge for every kind of work.
Then the LORD’s spirit came over Gideon, and he sounded the horn and summoned the Abiezrites to follow him.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed [David] in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward.
The LORD God’s spirit is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me.
He has sent me
to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim release for captives,
and liberation for prisoners.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Today we begin a four-week sermon series in which we’ll be learning about the ways God’s Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and our lives. Through the Spirit, God connects inside of us and out. God’s Spirit is always there, in front and behind, above and below, and to our left and to our right, surrounding us with God’s love and care and giving us the strength to live the kind of life that God’s love calls us to.
The chorus from a song from Amy Grant’s 1992 Christmas Album, Home for Christmas* seems like a good prayer for this week (and any other). In the song, Jesus’ young mother Mary is praying as she moves towards Bethlehem, asking for God’s help. Join me in this prayer:
Prayer
Be forever near me, breath of heaven
Breath of heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me your holiness for you are holy
Breath of heaven, breath of heaven,
Breath of heaven.
Amen.
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creagar
This week's prayer tip is by Jennifer Creagar, the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
© 2024 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
*Songwriter: Chris Eaton. Breath Of Heaven (Mary’s Song) lyrics © Reservoir Media Music, Riverstone Music Inc., Clouseau Music, Bethel Music Publishing, Brian And Jenn Publishing.
Amy Grant Home for Christmas album, 1992
