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Barbara R. Houseman

Snippets from My Journal #4


March 2, 2009

The Lord corrected one of my frequent prayers this morning. I have often cried out, ‘Lord, make me everything you want me to be.’ This morning the Spirit of the Lord stopped me as I began to pray that and said, ‘Pray this instead: Lord Jesus, You be everything You want to be through me.’

It’s such a wonderful gift when the Holy Spirit teaches us something new or corrects our misunderstandings.

Thank you, Father, for sending your Holy Spirit to teach us, to train us, to guide us through this life. Let me never take for granted this amazing gift: the indwelling Spirit of the Lord. Perhaps we do not pay sufficient attention to the fact that the Holy Spirit is God – the Spirit of the Lord within us. That’s mind-boggling!


The Holy Spirit was present in the early church at a very high level. When Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, he lied to God. (Acts 5) The consequence was that he died – instantly. When God is manifest as powerfully as He was at that time, it was life-threatening to lie in His presence. Offending the Spirit of God in that day was like tampering with high voltage electricity with wet hands. It’s no wonder the fear of the Lord fell on all who saw what happened to Ananias and his wife.

Paul wrote, ‘Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God.’ I Cor. 6:19

A temple not made with hands – that’s what God has wanted all along. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was an accommodation to Israel’s sinfulness. The Temples in Jerusalem were much the same. What the Father has wanted from eternity is what He has now made us to be: living temples, human beings saved by the blood of Jesus who now host His very own presence in the form of His Spirit alive within our spirits.

Wow, Lord! When I really think about it, it’s overwhelming. Forgive me for not appreciating more deeply the reality of your Holy Spirit within me. I don’t have to be afraid to talk directly to You, Holy Spirit. There is no rivalry, no jealousy in the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are ONE in a way that is beyond our human comprehension but I believe YOU! I believe Your Word. I sure don’t understand electricity but that doesn’t stop me from using it. I don’t need to understand the Trinity but simply to believe for without faith it is impossible to please Him.

The Spirit of God is God the Spirit. How simple is that! Lord, I want to be passionate about You, passionate about the Father, passionate about you, Jesus and passionate about your Holy Spirit. Fill me anew and afresh today, cause Your Spirit to overflow in my life. Grant me the ear of a disciple to hear His whispers. Don’t let me be so dull of hearing that He has to shout to get my attention. Make me sensitive to Your voice, Holy Spirit.

Jesus, You introduced the Spirit to us as a ‘comforter’, an ‘advocate’, a ‘counselor’ and a ‘helper.’ He’s not an ‘it’, He’s a person and He has His ways, very definite and sometimes peculiar ways of working in my life. At least it seems peculiar to me at times, Lord.

But He’s the only Holy Spirit I’ve got so I must adjust to Him because He’s not going to adjust to me!

Holy Spirit, I want to really know what the Bible calls ‘the joy of the Lord.’ (Neh. 8:10) I know there’s a difference between being happy when my circumstances are favorable and knowing the joy of the Lord independent of any circumstances or situations. Will you please teach me how to live in the joy of the Lord because it’s written in your word, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’

I want to live from that source of strength, knowing and loving the Lord Jesus intimately and passionately.


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