The Holy Spirit to inspire us every day

*** Der deutsche Originaltext wurde gestern hier eingestellt - siehe weiter unten im Blog

Der Heilige Geist als Geschenk für jeden Tag

Jesus came and stood among the disciples said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.! (John 20,20-22)

Dear brothers and sisters, John gives witness of how Jesus promises Peace and the Holy Spirit to his disciples and therefore also to us. What touching words! What comforting words, considering how Jesus just sent out his still fearful followers. It is not an easy mission. And so I also yearn for Jesus caring words, and so I feel sheltered in His peace, even in times of crisis. The Holy Spirit blows life and liveliness into my existence. Let me invite you, with all my heart, dear friends of the Bible Dialogues, to pray with me:

Come, God Holy Spirit, and make all things new!
Come with your wisdom, with your clarity, and with your council.
Come with you strength.
Come and grant us knowledge, where we are ignorant.
Give comfort when we despair.
Come and touch your people.
Be with us when we set out into the wide open world and heal us.
Come, we are waiting.

Come, God Holy Spirit, and make all things new!
Open our eyes for the pain and suffering in this world.
Open our eyes for the wealth that we have.
Make us ready and imaginative so we can share your plenty in justice.

Come, God Holy Spirit, and make all things new!
Be with all who are truly in pain, those without a home.
Be with the sick, the refugees, be with the children.
Be with those who have lost hope, those who are suffering persecution.

Come, God Holy Spirit, and make all things new!
Come we are waiting in faith
Amen               

Elke K., who shared this text for our blog, is a lay preacher (or predicant) in Lemgo, Germany. She has been a particpant in our Bible Dialogues for many years. Her prayer may read like it is fit for pentecost, and that is when she sent it to me. But is does concern us Christians every day of the year. That is what makes being a Christian so strenuous sometimes; it is not something to practice once a year or even every Sunday. Our mission for every day is to not just tell, but live God’s good message. And for this we need God’s „inspiration“ again and again.