Don't Quench the Spirit

Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time.  

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read.  
After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life.

Paul ends this letter with a rapid string of commands: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, and — right in the middle of it — do not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but test everything and hold fast to what is good. You are called to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and ask Him to speak through you, and don't shut Him down out of fear or unfamiliarity. Paul isn't asking for blind acceptance either — test what you hear against Scripture and hold onto what's good.

When God speaks to you, it builds your faith. When God speaks through you to someone else, it builds theirs. That's worth staying open for, every single day.

Where have you been quenching the Spirit — dismissing a prompting, an impression, or an opportunity — out of caution or fear?
        
Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer…  

1. Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you).  
2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: Father, I don't want to quench what Your Spirit wants to do in or through me. Teach me to test what I hear and hold onto what's good, but keep me from shutting You out. Speak to me, and let me be willing to speak for You. Amen.
   
3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today.  

Faith Step:
Identify one prompting from the Spirit you've been ignoring or dismissing lately, and take one step of obedience toward it today.