God's Holy Fire: 'Words Given by the Spirit!'

Thursday, April 2, 2026

And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.
— 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NLT

Key Thought

The apostle Paul is making a direct claim to speak the truth of God based on the work of the Holy Spirit to inspire what he says. In other words, Paul's words are God's message, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul's words are the Spirit's words used to explain spiritual realities, heavenly realities, in human language. His words aren't words of human wisdom but of our Father's will.

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, I recognize that I do not fully understand the process of inspiration. But Father, I do believe that you use the Holy Spirit to lead people to speak your truth in human words. So I commit to value your inspired words and to let the Holy Spirit use them in my heart to comfort, convict, correct, motivate, and equip me to live for you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

8 Related Resources by Heartlight

Spiritual Understanding
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us."
Spiritual Wisdom
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, giver of your wisdom, You have graciously imparted your wisdom to us. Thank you. You taught us not by words but by your Spirit, who..."
Spurgeon PM Devo for Mar. 1st
Devo: Morning & Evening
"As all the rivers run into the sea, so all delights centre in our Beloved. The glances of his eyes outshine the sun: the beauties of his face are..."
Supernatural Wisdom
Devo: Praying with Paul
"Dear Father, giver of your Holy Spirit, All praises to your blessed name, to you, our God! You have disclosed incredibly wonderful things to us..."
See All 8 Related Resources about 1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NLT — Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, April 2, 2026

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Those Whose Heart is Completely His' (2 Ch. 16:9)
"For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. You have acted..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: John 5:8
"Like many others, the impotent man had been waiting for a wonder to be wrought, and a sign to be given. Wearily did he watch the pool, but no angel..."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Walking in the Light of Grace'
"Dear Beloved, I came to your world to be God among you and die as the atoning sacrifice for your sins. However, My ministry for you did not end with...."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Unstoppable Spirit' (Acts 8:39-40)
"When [Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch] came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went..."

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations