The following is a part of our weekly devotional series, which is a companion to the 2013 Foursquare Life Journal. This week’s Bible reading comes from 2 Sam. 4-10; 1 Chron. 13-20; Ps. 2, 20, 68, 106, 132 and 139; and Matt. 16-22.
As I gaze out my bedroom window, I admire my backyard, which is adorned with scooters, soccer balls, baby strollers and little pairs of pink and purple flip-flops. Somewhere beneath the outdoor chaos sits my beautiful porch swing and lovely flowerpots. I smile, because signs of life are all around me.
I close my eyes and listen. I can hear the serene and peaceful sound of flowing water from the fountain in the yard. In this moment of stillness, I realize there is peace even in the midst of organized chaos and that the Lord is ever present.
A verse from one of my favorite passages of Scripture comes to mind: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence?” (Ps. 139:7, NKJV). What a beautiful reminder to this wife and mother of four small children who sorely needed it.
One of my greatest joys in life is my family and ministering together with them. However, on this particular day a few weeks ago, I found myself feeling quite overwhelmed by the current season of roles and responsibilities. I thought to myself, Why does something so joyous feel burdensome? The answer came quickly: His presence overwhelms the things that overwhelm me! Simply stated, I need the Lord’s presence at all times, every moment of every day. I am completely dependent on Him.
I began to respond to this reminder from the Holy Spirit by filling my home with praise and worship, edifying myself in the Spirit and rejoicing in His Word. I felt the burdens melt away, and my thoughts and perspective began to align with His as I embraced His presence, strength and joy.
As a wife and a parent, the best gift I could give my family—the greatest lesson I could ever teach my children—is how to be filled by, and live full of, the Holy Spirit. As ministers, we place much focus on our congregations, the needs of the people, and the ushering in of His glory during services.
But what about in our own homes? I desire for His glory to dwell in my home and for my family to receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit through me—so, I’m on a mission! I’m on a mission to embrace and make room for the Holy Spirit to move in my home and to steward the call of God on my family. I believe I am called, but I also believe my family is called.
My prayer for you, no matter your season of life and ministry, is that you would experience an outpouring of His presence in your home and on your family. Just as King David ushered in the presence of God with full abandon, may we in this same manner honor and make room for His presence in our lives daily.
Generations to come are depending on it!
By: Lydia Ingegneri, assisting minister at Grace North Church (Anthem Foursquare Church) in Anthem, Ariz.
Download the yearlong reading plan (PDF, 80 KB), or sign up for the full, online version of the Life Journal. To purchase a Life Journal for your own use, or to place a bulk order for church-wide use, visit FoursquareJournal.com. Learn more about Foursquare’s 2013 Life Journal project.
