Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard,and no mind has imaginedwhat God has preparedfor those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Dear God, I listened yesterday to a podcast where they were discussing the role of the Holy Spirit. There’s just so much we don’t know or understand. I told my wife later at dinner that I’m convinced that when I get to the after life I will see everything so clearly and I’ll say, “Oh, of course! It was all right there! Why didn’t I see it?” Kind of like a murder mystery movie when you watch until the end and then you go back and watch it again, seeing everything you missed that explained it all right there. That’s what I think my first moments of the after life will be like.

I guess my point is, I’m not so wise. I’m not so discerning. I’m not so faithful, holy, or righteous. I’m not so loving, forgiving, or humble. I’m not so patient, kind, or good. I’m not so gentle, faithful, or self-disciplined. I’m not so peaceful or joyful either. So what am I? I am so loved by you.

I also told my wife about my experience on Christmas Even sitting in the balcony of the church and looking down upon the congregation. It felt like I was seeing them with your eyes. Your loving eyes. Here they were. All kinds of people sitting there with all of their flaws, sins, and humanness. But there were there on Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. Some were drug there by their families. Some were there out of guilt and obligation. I somewhat fit into the latter camp since I had already done a Christmas Eve service earlier that day, but I wanted to be there to support my wife and experience her singing a great solo. But as we all sat there, your Holy Spirit moved among us, lived in us, united us together, if only for those two hours from 11:00pm to 1:00am and you smiled. You smiled because Jesus gave your righteous awesomeness access to our inadequate, impure lives. But oh how you love us. Oh how you smile.

Father, even now as I sit here and imagine how you are looking down on this human sitting in his study and typing on him computer to you, I can feel a bit of your smile. I can feel your Holy Spirit sitting with me and ministering to me. I can feel you love in my heart. I can feel joy. I can feel peace. Now help me to take this tomorrow and be kind, patient, and gentle. Help me to be faithful, good, and self-disciplined. Do it all so that your kingdom might come and your will might be done through this flawed human on earth as it is in heaven.

I pray all of this in Jesus with the Holy Spirit,

Amen