Week 5 | Day 4 | That Gut Feeling

Command:

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22 (NIV)

Read:

If you love me, keep my commands. 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. … Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. John 14:15-17, 21a (NIV)

Reflect:

I was 20 years old. My friend and I thought it was a great idea to help ourselves out with a 5-finger discount at the department store he worked at. It was a clever idea. I would grab things I liked in the store and take it over to his register and he would ring them as a return, bag them up and I would be on my merry way.  

I recall while grabbing items around the store feeling this pit in my stomach alerting me this was not a good idea. I knew this was wrong, but I had already committed to the plan. As I scanned the store for any other items I could snag, I met eyes with a dark-haired lady for a split second as she quickly moved on. My intuition, as I labeled it at the time, told me to: Turn back! It’s not too late. Don’t do this. I brushed it off. My desire outweighed that voice and I ignored it.  

I proceeded to my friend’s register as planned, grabbed my stuffed shopping bag and walked out the door. I’m two steps out the door when the dark-haired lady I encountered inside suddenly appears. She identified herself as a loss prevention officer and I was being detained for stealing. Our plan was not so clever after all. I labeled that small voice as a “gut feeling” or “intuition” as a young adult. Now I recognize this voice, this feeling deep in my gut as the Holy Spirit working in me, convicting me, guiding me to turn from my sinful nature and follow Jesus’ ways.

React:

Have you ever had a gut feeling about something? Or a gnawing thought that just won’t go away? It is likely the Holy Spirit nudging and guiding you. Take time to listen.

Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for leaving me with an advocate to guide and lead me in your ways.