Paraclete is not a term we use every day.\u00a0 But that Greek word is what Jesus used to refer to The Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
parakletos.\u00a0 Looks like parakeet, but they could not be more dissimilar.\u00a0 The definition is advocate, helper, intercessor, lender of strength.\u00a0 But that really doesn’t convey a complete picture.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit is indeed all of these, but this is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 <\/strong>This is the power of God not only to live the way He has called us to live, to endure the challenges and trials of this life, and that pleads with God for the pardon of our sins in the widest sense, but the full might of God that wages war on our behalf.<\/p>\n If I can ever get my meager mind to comprehend that our Paraclete is released to bring the victory we so desperately seek when I hit my knees<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 then I would spend more time and energy to be there.<\/p>\n I am really fighting discouragement this morning.\u00a0 Trying to lead my children on a 40 day journey that will change the course of their lives, the lives of those around them, and the lives of those who follow them – but only my wife and my mother want to come along.\u00a0 You know you can lead\u00a0horses to water, but you can’t make ’em drink.<\/em><\/p>\n I’m discouraged by the fact that as soon as I commit us to prayer, the bottom falls out of my business, our livlihood.<\/p>\n How do I battle discouragement and take up courage again?\u00a0 I hit my knees. I recount how faithful God has been. I Pray Hard and Think Long!\u00a0 I ask for our Paraclete to lend me strength, to open my spiritual eyes, to plead my case, and to give me courage.<\/p>\n Discouragement means to have courage drained from you.<\/p>\n Encouragement is to be filled with courage.<\/p>\n So, Father,\u00a0I pray that\u00a0You will make TCG and me such an example of God’s grace, love, power, and provision that our kids can’t resist the immense desire to follow in our steps. Help me release control and let You bring the victory I am unable to bring. Be our God, we are Your people!<\/em><\/p>\n How do you make\u00a0horses drink?… make them thirsty!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Paraclete is not a term we use every day.\u00a0 But that Greek word is what Jesus used to refer to The Holy Spirit. parakletos.\u00a0 Looks like parakeet, but they could not be more dissimilar.\u00a0 The definition is advocate, helper, intercessor, … Continue reading