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.

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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.

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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.

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