May 30, 2010
 
DEVOTION: Constant Comfort
 
By Beth Bondurant
 
Our second son was born premature and the doctor advised that we keep the temperature of the room constant; that the same person be responsible for his care and feeding; that a steadfast pattern of support and oversight surround this tiny body of potentiality.
 
For the well being of any age a constancy of care is vital for both physical and spiritual wholeness.
 
God provides us with a Comforter... a Friend... a Helper who is permanently with us. The Friend is the Spirit of Truth who will enable you to become witnesses to God's love and grace.
 
Pentecost is the season we celebrate God's breath in us... the vital principle we need to be in union with the One who made us, sustains us and redeems us throughout all our lives.
 
God's Spirit is infused in us...continually pouring into our heart, mind, body and spirit; giving us new life, new hope, new significance, new strength. We may be aging in our looks and ability to function... but we are NEW every morning by God's breath of life in us. We have meaning and purpose to bring God's truth into whatever we are doing... where ever we are going.
 
God imparts to us the ability to bring wholeness and healing where there is brokenness and pain. We are given the abundance of God's goodness to share with people in our own family... with neighbors and friends and even with strangers and sojourners we pass only once.
 
God instructs our words and actions to establish goodness and kindness... faithfulness and patience... gentleness and self control ... to build relationships of forgiveness and hope... so that God's love, joy and peace permeate in and through all.
 
"On the day of Pentecost, they were together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force--no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them."
 
The temperature was the same for all that day with strong... gale force winds; flaming like tongues of fire touched everyone with the same empowering care; and a number of differing abilities were prompted according to the need.
 
Come, Holy Spirit... we need your strong winds to revive us today. Breathe God's love into us so that we, too, can be distinguished by kindness and goodness in all we do. Though we have difficulty comprehending one another, permeate our being with understanding and touch our tongues with the language of love no matter how different it sounds. Ignite us with the fire of developing purity that clarifies the truth of God's unconditional and inclusive compassion for all.
 
Be our constant Comfort, O God, so we can transmit Your Spirit to others.