God's Holy Fire: 'The Spirit of Christ Helps Me'

For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

— Philippians 1:19-20 NLT

Key Thought

The Spirit of Christ helps us in so many ways. Paul, as he was writing to the Philippians from prison, knew that this help could be unleashed for him through the prayers of others. He was confident that this help would lead to his deliverance — whether it would be deliverance from death or through death. Paul knew that this help could give him boldness. It can do the same for us. This help from the Holy Spirit empowers us to honor Christ whether it is through the grind of day-to-day living or through courage in the face of even death or martyrdom. So, let's pray for others and have others pray for us. We can even pray as Paul prayed: "I pray that out of [the Father's] glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being" (Ephesians 3:16). When we pray and others pray with us, the Holy Spirit helps us!

Today's Prayer

Glorious Father, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and the assurance I have as I face all sorts of uncertainties. I have this assurance because of the presence of the Holy Spirit within me and the prayerful support of my brothers and sisters in Christ around me. So I join with Paul and pray that out of your glorious riches you will strengthen me with power through your Spirit and that "my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die." I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

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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.