Oct 06
Today’s Truth
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you (John 14:26 NIV).
Friend to Friend
I’ve always loved connecting dots. In my childhood it was dots with numbers on paper that stranded together to 
form an object. As I threw my attention to the page and followed the numbered steps, a picture developed. A new creation appeared that brought joy to my little-girl heart.
My grown-up dot-connecting challenges are far from a kid’s fun sheet. There are daily life dots that need connecting, like: family dots, faith dots, emotion dots, relationship dots, job dots, parenting dots and decision dots. I continually struggle to make sense of situations and circumstances and I long for a simply numbered life sheet to give me guidance and direction.
Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever wonder how to connect the practical instruction of God’s Word to your daily choices, challenges and behaviors? Do you struggle to understand how to connect the dots between your questions and God’s answers? Between the decisions you need to make and God’s wisdom?
If you have a pulse, I’m guessing you deal with this dot-connecting life stuff regularly like I do. The Lord knew we would struggle with this, and He gives each of us the power to connect our life dots.
How?
Through His Holy Spirit.
In Scripture, we see a beautiful promise. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus told His disciples that He had to die in order to connect the sinful hearts of man to the holy heart of God. He explained that though He was leaving this world, His followers would not be left alone or without power.
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17a).
Jesus went on to say, “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:25-26).
The Holy Spirit works in and through us to connect our hearts to the heart of God. He’s the connector between our problems and the solutions we are desperate for.
When we humbly go to God in prayer and ask Him to help us take the next step, or make the next decision, or choose the next response, He faithfully leads us with wisdom through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Invite the Holy Spirit to lead your decisions and emotions today.
Open your heart to His counsel.
Call on His wisdom and listen for the whispers of His truth.
As you do, He will connect your life dots in a way that brings glory to God the Father.
Imagine what our lives, families, churches, and communities would look like if we allowed the Spirit of God within us to connect our life dots each day. Without a doubt, the world would see a fresh and beautiful faith picture.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, You know every decision I need to make and every challenge I face. I’m sorry for the times I try to figure life out on my own. I need You. I need Your Holy Spirit to give me strength, wisdom, and direction, specifically concerning ______________.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What dots do you need to connect today?
After telling His disciples about the Holy Spirit in John 14, Jesus blessed them with a peace promise: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Where does this promise find you today? Whatever you are facing, know that the Holy Spirit is ready to guide and comfort you. Journal your thoughts and ask God to connect the faith dots for you so you can bring Him glory in your circumstances and experience His peace.
More from the Girlfriends
Struggling to see a beautiful faith picture? Gwen’s book, Broken Into Beautiful, is filled with Scriptural 
truths and stories of how God brings restoration to the hearts of those wounded by painful life experiences. Explore God’s healing and hope for your life today as you read Broken Into Beautiful. To order the book, go to Amazon or for a signed copy, order from Gwen’s web store.
Get 20% OFF BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL today when you order from Gwen’s website and use the coupon code: 20OFF
© 2022 by Gwen Smith. All rights reserved.
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P prayers that God turns me to truly a godly 16-year-old girl and that I can truly give my life totally to God and serve my God wherever I go
Gwen, this message this morning is so timely for me especially this morning. I realize that as far back as I can remember I have been struggling to “connect the dots”. I recognize a pattern of strength turning into weakness when I attempt to make sense of a situation in my life.
This morning as I reflect I see the dots connecting into a picture of God
standing beside me, the Holy Spirit within me. My mind is in awe of the knowledge that I don’t have to connect the dots on my own! I can simply sit in God’s presence where fear, doubt, anxiety,and hopelessness are replaced by the power of the holy spirit. In his perfect love ❤
Lifting you up in prayer, Erika. He loves you infinitely and he will guide you throughout your entire life helping you “connect the dots”. God bless you always.
Gwen,
Right now I am struggling to connect the dots between Jeremiah 29:11 and my son’s illness with ALS. This is a terminal disease and so I am now grieving his future passing.
How can this be “for my good”? How does this “not hurt me”?
Hello Laura,
I felt compelled to respond to your post. I can not imagine the pain you feel, hearing and living with your son’s diagnosis. ALS is another very devasting disease. I hope to share a few words to bring you Laura, a mother who has a son that has a devasting diagnosis. I hope to inspire you to read on and find other resources which will give you inspiration on your spiritual journey. I Do believe in our holy Trinity; our Lord the father, his son, Jesus, and the holy spirit. I also wish that someone would have shared with me that life is filled with really heartbreaking moments and challenges I never could imagine. Many times here on earth we have challenges that are very intense and not always pleasant. I always pray that when it is my turn, I will have the stamina, wisdom, heartfelt presence, and message that brings comfort. In the short verse, John 11:35, Jesus wept. This is the shortest verse in the bible but is very powerful. I find there is a depth of wisdom that I hope comforts you or compiles you to read more. John 11 is the story that leads up to this event. The insight is about Jesus taking time to be in the moment with the suffering, he was in that moment and he was brought to tears. He sat with Lazerus and wept. Jesus knew that he would shortly celebrate and then later Lazerus would die, but in those real moments, he sat next to Lazurus and wept. You have my heartfelt wish you continue to find comfort in the word and are able to sit with your son as he goes through his earthly journey.God Bless