God's Holy Fire: 'I Know Your Words and Thoughts!'

Friday, September 1, 2023

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel], and he told me to say, "This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds."
— Ezekiel 11:5 NLT

Key Thought

We can scheme, plan, and plot quietly. We can tell our inner thoughts to no one else. The Spirit of God, however, knows our inner thoughts, schemes, plans, and plots. The Spirit not only inspired God's message in Scripture, but he also convicts, informs, and transforms our mind and spirit, helping us overcome the pull of our fleshly nature. The Spirit challenges and confronts the thoughts we wouldn't dare say out loud. When God's words are spoken, heard, and read, they are directed to the struggle of each heart seeking to be conformed to the will of God. The message of God comes from the Holy Spirit. That message has power because the Holy Spirit convicts as well as informs. Let's ask the Spirit to speak to our hearts, minister to our needs, inspire our godly longings, support us through our weaknesses, confront our duplicity, and help us know God's truth!

Today's Prayer

O Father, please make your will clear to me through the work of your Holy Spirit in my heart. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of Ezekiel 11:5 NLT — "This is what the LORD says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds."

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.