The One Who Dwells Within

By:  Julie Clinton

"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."  John 14:16-17

Ever wonder what it means to truly have the Holy Spirit living within you?  It's a strange thought, but comforting none the less. As the passage in John tells us, we know the Holy Spirit, we recognize and have a relationship with Him, because He "dwells with (us)." These words present a mental pictue to me of the Holy Spirit not only living within us, guiding and directing us, but also walking beside us, holding our hands along the way, the manifestation of God's "very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

Whether you are on a crowded city street or on a deserted island with no one else present, you are never alone.  Many times, the loneliness you experience is the result of simply not acknowledging who is already there.  Acknowledge Him and He will be there.  Even now.  You always have an audience of One!

Prayer:
Father, thank You for always being there for me (us).  Help me (us) to know that we are not alone.  Holy Spirit, walk with us and and dwell in each of us as we seek to become one with You.  As we abide in You, may our feelings of loneliness be overcome by the beauty of solitude.  Amen