In the introduction of the book, Levison points out seven verbs that he will use to guide the direction of the book, verbs that lead "from deep within to the world outside." These words are: breathing, praying practicing, learning, leading, building, blossoming. The devotions for the first week came under "breathing," and this morning's devotion begins the section on praying.
It seems to me that one of the themes that is emerging is the activity of the Holy Spirit, but not in the attention-grabbing, flashy miracle-making way. The Spirit is active, but working behind the scenes quietly. In today's text, Levison focuses on the Holy Spirit leading Jesus away from "tripping over success" at the disciples return and reports about their own positive results and drawing Jesus "toward babies and not the wise, the weak rather than the strong."
It is easy to be drawn off track by success. It is tempting to take the credit for ourselves, to try to impress the successful and powerful, and to lose sight of who we are and from where we have come. Today's reading is a good reminder to me to keep my focus on God and God's goodness and to let the Spirit through prayer keep me close to God.
It seems to me that one of the themes that is emerging is the activity of the Holy Spirit, but not in the attention-grabbing, flashy miracle-making way. The Spirit is active, but working behind the scenes quietly. In today's text, Levison focuses on the Holy Spirit leading Jesus away from "tripping over success" at the disciples return and reports about their own positive results and drawing Jesus "toward babies and not the wise, the weak rather than the strong."
It is easy to be drawn off track by success. It is tempting to take the credit for ourselves, to try to impress the successful and powerful, and to lose sight of who we are and from where we have come. Today's reading is a good reminder to me to keep my focus on God and God's goodness and to let the Spirit through prayer keep me close to God.
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