Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
April 8, 2024
This Week's Anchor
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and
be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 (NIV)
As we turn our attention to the grand spectacle of today’s solar eclipse, I find myself in awe of God’s celestial creativity and inspired by the influence of our intimate moon. As a kid, I experienced the moon as a still object that illuminated the nighttime sky, but as I’ve grown older, my awareness of the moon has extended beyond the excitement of rare eclipses or bedtime cues. Instead, I now observe the moon in my everyday life and specifically, seem to notice its presence during daytime hours in ways that were never apparent before. Now, I’m no astronomer (though I strongly identify as an admirer of astronomy), so I’m not sure if something has physically changed in our atmosphere, or if (more likely) I have evolved to be more mindful over the years. Regardless of the reason, I am ever so impressed by the moon’s presence alongside our sun even when we aren’t consciously aware of it.
I cannot count the number of times I’ve driven from one place to the next and noticed the moon boldly glaring back at me in broad daylight. My recent experiences with the moon have served as a spiritual metaphor for me. In fact, being compelled by the unsuspecting presence of the moon has reminded me of the powerful and often overlooked presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s an ironic association. Nonetheless, I can’t help but consider the moments when, like the moon, we don’t always notice or acknowledge the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We often place a lot of emphasis on studying and understanding the mystery of our enormous sun, but the moon doesn’t get as much hype. Interestingly enough, we do the same with the Holy Spirit.
For those of us who believe in the Trinity, we recognize they are one of the same (commonly referred to as “God in three persons”, Matthew 28:19 NIV). Yet, with time, I’ve come to realize the unique contribution and impact that each manifestation of God can have in our lives, particularly that of the Holy Spirit. Our anchor scripture this week highlights this relevance. It takes us to the moments before Jesus’ crucifixion. As Jesus comforts the disciples in predicting His impending death, He encourages them, “…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17a, NIV) Later in this moment, Jesus, again, empowers the disciples and all of us by declaring, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26, NIV).
Like the moon, we cannot discount the significant influence of the Holy Spirit. Just as the relatively small luminescent ball of cold rock can shift the tides, orient us to time, and impact Earth’s seasons, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a powerful presence in our lives with many benefits.
The Holy Spirit contributes to our lives by:
Being a thread of connection with God and Jesus (v. 26)
Advocating for, protecting, and helping us (v.16, 26)
Comforting us and providing us with unexplainable peace (v.27)
Dwelling within and among us, being present with us continually (v.16)
Teaching us important spiritual and life lessons (v.26)
Revealing Divine purpose and reminding us of the Truth that anchors our lives (v.26)
So, as we enter this week, let us first slow down so that we can be mindful of all the beautiful manifestations of God in our lives. May we acknowledge, sense, and embrace the abundant presence of the Holy Spirit that moves and accompanies us like a good and worthy shimmering friend.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
In what ways do you notice the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Are there things you can do to acknowledge the Holy Spirit more?
What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?
Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week
John 15:26
Romans 8:23-27
Romans 15:13
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Philippians 2:1-4
2 Thessalonians 2:15-16
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
"The most common way people give up their power
is by thinking they don't have any."
Alice Walker
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