Ghost Stories Wk 4

Day 1: Facing Your Valley

Devotional

We all have places in our lives that feel like graveyards – relationships that seem beyond repair, dreams that appear dead, or circumstances that look hopeless. Maybe it’s a marriage that’s grown cold, a career that’s stalled, or a faith that feels distant. These are our valleys of dry bones, and they can be intimidating places to visit.

But here’s what’s remarkable about God’s character: He doesn’t avoid our valleys. Instead, He leads us directly into them. When God brought Ezekiel to that valley filled with very dry bones, it wasn’t to discourage him but to reveal something extraordinary about divine power. God wanted Ezekiel to see the full scope of what seemed impossible so he could witness the full scope of God’s ability.

The first step toward transformation isn’t pretending everything is fine or avoiding the hard places. It’s being honest about where we are and inviting God into those spaces. When we stop running from our valleys and start walking through them with God, we position ourselves to see miracles we never thought possible.

Your valley isn’t a place of shame – it’s a place of potential. What looks dead to you is actually the perfect canvas for God to paint His resurrection power. The very things that seem most hopeless in your life might be exactly where God wants to do His greatest work.

Bible Verse

“The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.” – Ezekiel 37:1

Reflection Question

What valley in your life have you been avoiding, and how might God be inviting you to face it with Him rather than running from it alone?

Quote

Transformation begins when we stop pretending that the bones aren’t there.

Prayer

Lord, give me courage to face the valleys in my life that I’ve been avoiding. Help me trust that You lead me into these places not to shame me, but to show me Your power. I invite Your presence into every dry and hopeless area of my life. Amen

Day 2: God's Perspective Changes Everything

Devotional

When God asked Ezekiel if the dry bones could live, Ezekiel wisely responded, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” This wasn’t uncertainty – it was wisdom. Ezekiel understood that God’s perspective is radically different from ours. Where we see endings, God sees beginnings. Where we see impossibility, God sees opportunity.

This shift in perspective is crucial for our faith journey. We often get stuck focusing on what we can see with our natural eyes – the broken pieces, the failed attempts, the closed doors. But God operates from a completely different vantage point. He sees potential where we see problems, life where we see death, and hope where we see hopelessness.

The truth is, what looks dormant to us is actually alive in Jesus. That relationship you think is over, that dream you believe is dead, that part of your heart that feels numb – God sees resurrection potential in all of it. Your impossibilities are actually the perfect ingredients for God’s miracles.

This doesn’t mean we ignore reality or pretend problems don’t exist. Instead, it means we choose to see our circumstances through the lens of God’s unlimited power rather than our limited understanding. When we align our vision with heaven’s perspective, we begin to speak differently, hope differently, and live differently.

Bible Verse

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Reflection Question

In what area of your life do you need to shift from seeing through your natural eyes to seeing through God’s eyes of possibility and hope?

Quote

What looks dead to us, what looks dormant to us, is actually alive in Jesus. What you think is impossible is actually the very ingredients that it takes for God to do a miracle.

Prayer

Father, help me see my circumstances through Your eyes rather than my own limited perspective. Where I see death, help me see resurrection potential. Give me faith to believe that what seems impossible to me is completely possible with You. Amen.

Day 3: The Power of Prophetic Words

Devotional

When God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, something extraordinary happened. As Ezekiel spoke God’s words over the lifeless situation, there was a rattling sound, and the bones began to come together. This wasn’t magic – it was the power of speaking God’s truth over impossible circumstances.

Too often, we let our words agree with death rather than life. We speak about our problems more than we speak to them. We describe our limitations more than we declare God’s limitless power. But there’s something powerful that happens when we align our words with heaven’s perspective.

Speaking prophetically doesn’t mean we’re trying to manipulate outcomes or deny reality. Instead, we’re partnering with God’s Spirit to announce what heaven has already declared. We’re calling those things that aren’t as though they are, just as God does. When we speak life over dead situations, we’re not being naive – we’re being faithful.

The Spirit moves when faith moves our mouth. Your words have creative power because you’re made in the image of the Creator. When you speak God’s promises over your marriage, your children, your dreams, or your circumstances, you’re releasing heaven’s reality into earth’s situations. Don’t underestimate the power of prophetic declaration in your daily life.

Bible Verse

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” – John 7:38

Reflection Question

What dead or dying situation in your life needs you to stop speaking about the problem and start speaking God’s promises over it?

Quote

The spirit moves when faith moves your mouth.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, teach me to speak Your words over my circumstances. Help me stop agreeing with death and start declaring life. Give me faith to prophesy Your promises over every dry area of my life, trusting that You will breathe life into what seems dead. Amen.

Day 4: Breathing Life Into Dry Places

Devotional

After the bones came together in Ezekiel’s vision, they still needed one more thing – the breath of life. God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, and when he did, the Spirit entered the bodies and they came alive as a vast army. This reveals a beautiful truth: God doesn’t just rearrange our circumstances; He breathes His very life into them.

The Holy Spirit is the breath of God, and He’s not afraid of your valley. He specializes in bringing life to dead places, hope to hopeless situations, and strength to weary souls. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is still breathing life into valleys today. He’s ready to breathe into your dry places if you’ll invite Him in.

Sometimes we forget who we are and push the Holy Spirit down with our fear rather than stirring Him up with our faith. We have the Spirit of the living God dwelling within us, yet we often live as if we’re powerless. It’s time to remember that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.

When God breathes, bones move. When the Spirit comes, life returns. But we must be willing to go into the valley and face what we’re really afraid of. We must invite the Holy Spirit into our most vulnerable places and trust Him to do what only He can do – resurrect what’s dead and transform what’s broken.

Bible Verse

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Reflection Question

Where in your life do you need to invite the Holy Spirit to breathe new life, and what fears might be preventing you from fully surrendering that area to Him?

Quote

When God breathes, bones move. When the Spirit comes, life returns. But you got to be willing to go into the valley, places of your life and face what you’re really afraid of.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, and breathe Your life into every dry place in my heart and circumstances. I surrender my fears and invite You to move powerfully in areas where I’ve lost hope. Fill me with Your presence and transform what seems dead into something beautiful and alive. Amen.

Day 5: From Valley to Victory

Devotional

The end of Ezekiel’s vision is breathtaking – what began as a valley of dry bones became a mighty army. This wasn’t just about individual restoration; it was about corporate transformation. God doesn’t just want to fix what’s broken in your life; He wants to resurrect what’s dead and turn you into a leader who can help others find life too.

Twenty years from now, people might laugh with joy at the very things that seem impossible in your life today. That broken relationship could become a testimony of God’s healing power. That failed dream could be resurrected as something even greater than you originally imagined. That area where you feel spiritually dry could become the source of life-giving ministry to others.

God’s resurrection power isn’t just about personal victory – it’s about becoming part of His army of hope in a world that desperately needs to see that dead things can live again. Your valley experience, once transformed by God’s power, becomes a source of encouragement and faith for others walking through their own dry places.

The question isn’t whether God can bring life to your dead places – He absolutely can. The question is whether you’ll trust Him enough to speak His promises, invite His Spirit, and believe that your greatest struggles can become your most powerful testimonies. What is impossible for God? Absolutely nothing.

Bible Verse

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'” – John 11:25

Reflection Question

How might God want to use your current valley experience to eventually help others find hope and life in their own impossible situations?

Quote

I just wonder what part of your story people will laugh at 20 years from now? What dried up part of your life is God wanting to resurrect that?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the resurrection and the life. I believe You can transform my valley into victory and use my story to bring hope to others. Help me trust Your timing and Your process, knowing that You’re preparing me not just for personal breakthrough but to be part of Your army of hope in this world. Amen.

Ghost Stories Wk 3

Day 1: Transformation Over Attention

Devotional

Have you ever watched someone perform an impressive feat just to get noticed? Maybe it was a flashy social media post, an over-the-top gesture, or even a spiritual display that seemed more about the person than about God. It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to impress others, even in our spiritual lives.

The Holy Spirit operates differently than our human nature. While we often seek attention and applause, the Spirit’s primary work is transformation. He’s not interested in making us look impressive; He’s committed to making us more like Jesus. This transformation happens quietly, deeply, from the inside out.

Think about a fruit tree. The most important work happens underground and within the trunk—roots deepening, nutrients flowing, life pulsing through every branch. The fruit that eventually appears is simply the natural result of all that hidden growth. Similarly, the Spirit’s most significant work in our lives often happens in the quiet moments, the private struggles, the daily choices that nobody else sees.

This doesn’t mean the Spirit’s work is boring or powerless. Transformation is the most powerful force in the universe. When God changes a heart, it impacts eternity. When He develops character in us, it influences every relationship we have. When He grows fruit in our lives, it nourishes everyone around us.

The beautiful truth is that we don’t have to perform for God’s approval or try to impress others with our spirituality. Instead, we can rest in knowing that the Spirit is doing His deep, transformative work in us right now. As we yield to Him, authentic spiritual fruit will naturally emerge—not for show, but for the genuine blessing of others and the glory of God.

Bible Verse

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.’ – Galatians 5:22-23

Reflection Question

In what areas of your life are you more focused on impressing others rather than allowing God to transform you from the inside out?

Quote

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just give gifts to impress people. He gives fruit to transform people.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, help me to value Your transforming work in my life more than any attention or approval I might receive from others. Change me from the inside out, and let Your fruit grow naturally in my character. Amen.

Day 2: One Fruit, Nine Flavors

Devotional

When you walk through a grocery store, you see different fruits in separate sections—apples here, oranges there, bananas in another spot. But spiritual fruit works differently. It’s not a collection of separate items we pick and choose from; it’s one unified fruit with nine distinct flavors that all grow together.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control aren’t independent qualities we develop one at a time. They’re interconnected aspects of the same spiritual reality—the life of Christ being formed in us. You can’t truly have one without the others beginning to emerge as well.

Consider how these qualities naturally flow together. When love grows in your heart, joy follows because love brings fulfillment. Peace develops because love casts out fear. Patience emerges because love endures. Each flavor enhances and strengthens the others, creating a rich, complex spiritual maturity that reflects Jesus Himself.

This understanding takes pressure off us. We don’t have to frantically work on developing nine separate character traits. Instead, we focus on staying connected to the Vine—Jesus—and allowing His life to flow through us. As we abide in Him, all nine flavors naturally develop together.

Sometimes we might taste one flavor more strongly than others in a particular season. Maybe you’re learning patience through a difficult situation, or experiencing God’s peace in the midst of chaos. But remember, the other flavors are developing too, even if you can’t taste them as clearly yet.

The goal isn’t perfection in all nine areas immediately. It’s growth, maturity, and increasing Christlikeness as the Spirit continues His patient work in us.

Bible Verse

‘There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.’ – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Reflection Question

Which ‘flavor’ of spiritual fruit do you most need to see grow in your life right now, and how might it connect to the other aspects of Christ’s character?

Quote

It’s one fruit that God. It doesn’t say fruits of the Spirit. This is the fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You that spiritual maturity isn’t about perfecting separate qualities but about Your life growing in me as one beautiful fruit. Help me stay connected to You so all aspects of Your character can develop in my life. Amen.

Day 3: Character Before Capacity

Devotional 

We live in a world obsessed with capacity—how much we can achieve, how fast we can grow, how impressive our abilities are. But God operates by a different principle: character must come before capacity. Who we are matters more than what we can do. 

Imagine giving a powerful tool to someone without the wisdom or character to handle it responsibly. The results could be devastating. This is why God is so intentional about developing our character alongside our abilities. He knows that our capacity can never safely outpace our character. 

This principle shows up everywhere in life. A business leader without integrity will eventually destroy what they’ve built. A talented athlete without discipline will waste their potential. A gifted speaker without humility will use their platform for selfish gain. The same is true in spiritual matters—gifts without character become dangerous. 

God’s approach is different. He develops fruit and gifts together, ensuring that as our abilities grow, our character grows too. He gives us opportunities to practice love before He gives us platforms to influence many. He teaches us faithfulness in small things before entrusting us with greater responsibilities. 

This might feel frustrating when we’re eager to step into greater ministry or influence. We want to use our gifts now, make an impact immediately, see results quickly. But God’s timing is perfect. He’s protecting us, those we’ll serve, and His own reputation by ensuring we’re ready—not just capable, but mature. 

The beautiful truth is that character development never stops. Even as we grow in gifting and opportunity, God continues deepening our character. This isn’t a one-time process but a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus in both who we are and what we do. 

Bible Verse

 ‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 

Reflection Question 

In what areas of your life might God be developing your character before expanding your capacity or influence? Quote Your capacity can never outpace your character. 

Prayer 

Father, help me to value character development as much as I value growing in gifts and abilities. Teach me patience with Your timing and trust in Your process of making me more like Jesus. Amen.

Day 4: Love: The Heartbeat Behind Everything

Devotional 

Music without rhythm becomes noise. A car without an engine becomes decoration. Spiritual gifts without love become meaningless performance. Love isn’t just another quality we should develop—it’s the heartbeat that gives life to everything else we do. 

You could have the most impressive spiritual resume imaginable. You could prophesy with stunning accuracy, heal the sick with remarkable power, speak in tongues with beautiful fluency, and preach with fire and passion. But if love isn’t the driving force behind these gifts, they’re just noise—impressive perhaps, but ultimately empty. Love transforms everything it touches. When love motivates our words, they bring life instead of judgment. When love drives our service, it blesses rather than burdens. When love guides our spiritual gifts, they build up the church instead of drawing attention to ourselves. 

This is why love is listed first among the fruit of the Spirit. It’s not just one flavor among nine—it’s the foundation that makes all the others possible. Joy flows from love. Peace comes through love. Patience is love enduring. Kindness is love in action. Every aspect of spiritual fruit grows from the soil of love. 

The challenge is that love can’t be faked or manufactured through willpower. True love—the kind that serves as the heartbeat of authentic spirituality—comes from experiencing God’s love for us first. As we understand how deeply, completely, and unconditionally God loves us, that love begins to flow through us to others. 

This is why spending time with God isn’t just about learning more or becoming more spiritual. It’s about falling deeper in love with Him and allowing His love to fill us so completely that it naturally overflows to everyone around us. 

Bible Verse 

‘If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.’ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 

Reflection

 Question How can you tell whether love or something else (like duty, recognition, or habit) is the primary motivation behind your spiritual activities and service? Quote You can have every gift there is. You can prophesy, you can heal, you can preach fire. But if love isn’t, the heartbeat behind it is just noise. 

Prayer 

God, fill me with Your love so completely that it becomes the heartbeat behind everything I do. Help me to serve, speak, and use my gifts from a place of genuine love rather than any other motivation. Amen.

Day 5: Attracting and Feeding

Devotional 

Have you ever been drawn to a restaurant by an amazing aroma, only to be disappointed by the actual meal? Or maybe you’ve seen a beautiful fruit display that looked perfect but tasted bland? There’s something deeply frustrating about attraction without substance, promise without delivery.

This same principle applies to our spiritual lives. We need enough ‘spice’—enough genuine spiritual life and gifting—to attract people to Jesus. But we also need enough fruit—enough character and depth—to actually feed them once they’re drawn in. 

Some believers focus entirely on attraction. They emphasize the spectacular, the impressive, the attention-grabbing aspects of faith. Their spiritual lives might draw crowds, but people leave hungry because there’s no substance to nourish them. Others focus solely on character development, becoming wonderfully mature but so inwardly focused that they never attract anyone to the beauty of Jesus. 

God’s design is for both to work together. The gifts of the Spirit create attraction—they demonstrate God’s power and love in ways that capture attention and spark curiosity. But the fruit of the Spirit provides the nourishment that sustains people and helps them grow. Gifts bring them in; fruit feeds them. 

This balance requires intentionality. We need to stay open to how God wants to use us in supernatural ways while also prioritizing the slow, steady work of character development. We need to be willing to step out in faith and see God move through us, while also ensuring that our private lives reflect the love and character of Jesus. 

When both elements are present—when our lives have enough spiritual ‘flavor’ to attract people and enough fruit to feed them—we become the kind of Christians that a hurting world desperately needs to encounter.

 Bible Verse 

‘But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.’ – 1 Corinthians 14:40 

Reflection Question 

Does your spiritual life currently lean more toward attracting people or feeding them, and how might God want to bring better balance to both aspects?

 Quote 

The gifts will bring them in, but the fruit feeds them. So there needs to be something in your life that’s just spicy enough to attract people, Just holy spirit driven enough that it attracts people. But then there has to be enough fruit on that tree to feed them. 

Prayer 

Holy Spirit, help me to be both attractive and nourishing in my faith. Give me enough spiritual life to draw people to Jesus and enough character to feed them once they come. Make me the kind of Christian that reflects Your heart. Amen.

Ghost Stories Wk 2

Day 1: In the Beginning, God's Spirit

Devotional

Have you ever wondered when the Holy Spirit first appeared? Many of us think of Pentecost as His grand debut, but the truth is far more beautiful. From the very first verse of Scripture, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, actively participating in creation itself.

This changes everything about how we view the Holy Spirit. He’s not some mysterious add-on to our faith or a New Testament afterthought. He’s been part of God’s story from day one, intimately involved in bringing order from chaos, light from darkness, and life from emptiness.

When God said, “Let there be light,” the Spirit was there, moving and working alongside the Father and the Son. This means that the same Spirit who participated in creating the universe wants to participate in creating something beautiful in your life today.

Too often, we compartmentalize our faith, thinking of God the Father as distant, Jesus as historical, and the Holy Spirit as confusing. But the Trinity has always worked in perfect unity. The Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation is the same Spirit who wants to hover over the chaos in your life, bringing His order, peace, and purpose.

Your relationship with God isn’t complete without embracing all three persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit isn’t scary or unpredictable – He’s been God’s faithful presence from the very beginning, and He wants to be your faithful companion today.

Bible Verse

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’ – Genesis 1:1-3

Reflection Question

What areas of chaos or emptiness in your life need the Holy Spirit’s creative power to bring order and light?

Quote

I think that it’s time that we invited all of God to the table.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, thank You for being present from the very beginning of creation. Just as You brought order from chaos and light from darkness, I invite You to move in the messy areas of my life. Help me recognize Your faithful presence and trust in Your power to create something beautiful from what seems impossible. Amen.

Day 2: Better Together Than Apart

Devotional

Imagine having a best friend who could only be in one place at a time. No matter how much you loved them, there would always be moments when you’d feel alone, wishing they could be with you. This was the reality for Jesus’ disciples – they had the Son of God right there with them, but He was limited by His physical body.

Then Jesus said something that must have shocked them: “It’s better for you that I go away.” How could losing Jesus possibly be better? Because when He left, He would send the Holy Spirit –God’s presence

that could be with all believers, everywhere, all the time.

This is the incredible gift we have today. While the disciples had to take turns being close to Jesus, we can all experience God’s presence simultaneously. The Holy Spirit isn’t a consolation prize for missing out on walking with Jesus in person. He’s the upgrade that makes intimate relationship with God available to everyone.

Think about it: the same Spirit that empowered Jesus to perform miracles, speak with authority, and love unconditionally is available to you right now. You don’t have to wait in line or compete for God’s attention. His Spirit is ready to be your source of power, comfort, and direction.

The question isn’t whether God wants to be close to you – He’s already made that possible through His Spirit. The question is whether you’ll recognize and welcome His presence in your daily life.

Bible Verse

‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ – Acts 2:1-4

Reflection Question

How might your daily decisions change if you truly believed that God’s Spirit is with you everywhere you go?

Quote

God is in this house because he said where two or more are gathered that he is in the midst of them.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for sending Your Spirit so that I never have to be alone. Help me to recognize His presence throughout my day and to rely on His power rather than my own strength. Teach me to welcome His comfort, guidance, and love in every situation I face. Amen.

Day 3: Authentic Over Dramatic

Devotional

We live in a world obsessed with the spectacular. Social media feeds are filled with highlight reels, and even in church, we can get caught up in wanting dramatic experiences that make for good stories. But when it comes to the Holy Spirit, authenticity matters more than drama.

The Spirit’s work isn’t about putting on a show or drawing attention to ourselves. His purpose is to point people to Jesus, not to make us the center of attention. When the Spirit moves authentically, it produces the fruit of His character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This doesn’t mean the Spirit’s work is boring or predictable. It means it’s real, transformative, and focused on the right things. Sometimes His work might challenge our thinking or push us out of our comfort zones, but it will always align with Jesus’ character and God’s love.

Many people have been hurt by inauthentic displays that were blamed on the Holy Spirit. Maybe you’ve witnessed something that felt more like performance than genuine spiritual experience. Don’t let someone else’s misrepresentation keep you from experiencing the real thing.

The Holy Spirit wants to work through you in ways that are genuine, life-giving, and glorifying to God. He’s not interested in making you weird or uncomfortable – He wants to make you more like Jesus. That’s a transformation worth pursuing, even if it doesn’t make for the most dramatic testimony.

 Bible Verse

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.’ – Genesis 1:1-2

Reflection Question

What’s the difference between seeking an authentic relationship with the Holy Spirit versus seeking a dramatic spiritual experience?

Quote

If what you’re doing draws attention to you and not to what God is doing, then you’re out of order.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I want to experience Your authentic work in my life, not just dramatic moments. Help me focus on becoming more like Jesus rather than seeking attention for myself. Produce Your fruit in my character and use me to point others to You. Guard me from anything inauthentic that might misrepresent who You are. Amen.

Day 4: Don't Let Bad Experiences Win

Devotional

“I don’t go to church because I had a bad experience.” We’ve all heard this, and maybe we’ve even said it ourselves. But here’s a perspective that might change everything: just because someone did something wrong doesn’t mean we throw out the whole process.

Bad experiences with the Holy Spirit – or with people claiming to represent Him – can leave deep wounds. Maybe you’ve seen manipulation disguised as spiritual gifts or witnessed behavior that seemed more about ego than about God. These experiences are real, and the hurt they cause is valid.

But here’s the truth: the Holy Spirit Himself isn’t the problem. People’s misuse or misunderstanding of His work is the problem. When we let negative experiences keep us from pursuing a relationship with the Holy Spirit, we’re allowing other people’s mistakes to rob us of something God wants to give us.

The solution isn’t to avoid the Holy Spirit altogether – it’s to learn what authentic relationship with Him actually looks like. It’s to find people who demonstrate His fruit rather than just His gifts. It’s to study Scripture and see how He really works.

God is not only the God of addition but sometimes the God of subtraction. Sometimes He removes people or experiences from our lives to protect us and redirect us toward something better. Don’t let past disappointments prevent you from experiencing the fullness of who God is. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity and rejecting Him means missing out on complete relationship with God.

Bible Verse

‘And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.’ – Genesis 1:3

Reflection Question

What past experiences might be preventing you from fully embracing the Holy Spirit’s work in your life, and how can you move beyond them?

Quote

Just because some stuff has been done wrong doesn’t mean that I get rid of the process. It just means that maybe I need to walk with a different group of people so that it comes to a different place.

Prayer

Father, I confess that past hurts and disappointments have sometimes made me hesitant to fully embrace Your Spirit. Help me to separate people’s mistakes from Your true character. Give me wisdom to discern authentic spiritual experiences and courage to pursue a genuine relationship with all of You – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Heal any wounds that are holding me back. Amen.

Day 5: Step Out and Let Him Move

Devotional

There’s a beautiful truth that changes everything about how we approach the Holy Spirit: He will never move through something that doesn’t want to be moved through. This means the ball is in our court. The question isn’t whether the Spirit can move – it’s whether we’ll let Him move through us.

Maybe you’ve been waiting for some dramatic sign or overwhelming feeling before you step out in faith. But often, the Holy Spirit’s invitation is much quieter: “Will you trust Me enough to try?” He wants to use you beyond your natural abilities, but He needs your willingness.

This might mean having a conversation you’ve been avoiding, serving in a way that stretches you, or simply being more intentional about inviting God into your daily decisions. It doesn’t have to be spectacular – it just has to be surrendered.

The Holy Spirit isn’t looking for perfect people; He’s looking for available people. He’s not waiting for you to have all the answers or feel completely confident. He’s waiting for you to say, “Yes, God, use me,” even when you’re not sure what that will look like.

This week, can you invite God to move through you? Can you step out in faith, asking Him to use you beyond your natural abilities? The Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who filled the disciples at Pentecost, wants to work through your ordinary life in extraordinary ways. All He needs is your permission.

 Bible Verse

‘All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ – Acts 2:4

Reflection Question

What is one specific area where you can invite the Holy Spirit to work through you this week, even if it feels beyond your natural abilities?

Quote

The Holy Spirit will never move through something that doesn’t want to be moved through.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I want to be available for You to work through me. I confess that sometimes I hold back out of fear or uncertainty, but I don’t want to limit what You can do in and through my life. Give me courage to step out in faith this week. Use me beyond my natural abilities to show Your love and power to others. I say yes to Your leading. Amen.

Ghost Stories Wk 1

Day 1: The Invisible Battle Around Us

Devotional

Have you ever felt like there’s more going on around you than what meets the eye? Maybe you’ve sensed an unexplained heaviness in certain places, or felt an unusual peace wash over you during difficult times. The truth is, there’s an entire spiritual reality operating alongside our physical world that most of us rarely acknowledge.

We get so caught up in our daily routines – paying bills, sitting in traffic, managing work deadlines – that we forget we’re living in the middle of an ongoing spiritual battle. This isn’t some fantasy or metaphor; it’s the reality Scripture describes. Every day, spiritual forces of good and evil are actively engaged in warfare, and whether we realize it or not, we’re right in the center of it.

The good news is that this battle isn’t something we need to fear. When we understand what’s really happening around us, we can live with greater awareness, purpose, and confidence. We’re not helpless bystanders in this cosmic conflict – we have a role to play and victory to claim.

Recognizing this spiritual dimension doesn’t mean we become paranoid or overly focused on the

supernatural. Instead, it means we live with our eyes wide open, understanding that our prayers matter, our choices have spiritual significance, and God is actively working on our behalf in ways we can’t always see.

 

Bible Verse

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

 

Reflection Question

How might your daily decisions and interactions change if you truly believed that spiritual forces are actively working both for and against God’s purposes in your life?

 

Quote

Right now, at this very moment, there’s another reality that’s going to on. So we live in the natural, but at the same time, if you imagine that an equal sign with an extra line, we’re in the middle, and above us would be angelic, and below us would be demonic forces.

 

Prayer

Lord, open my eyes to see beyond the physical world around me. Help me to live with awareness of the spiritual battle taking place, not in fear, but in confidence that You are fighting for me. Give me wisdom to recognize when spiritual forces are at work and the courage to stand firm in Your truth. Amen.

Day 2: Heaven's Warriors on Assignment

Devotional

 

When you think of angels, what comes to mind? Perhaps gentle, harp-playing figures with soft wings and peaceful expressions? While angels certainly bring God’s peace and comfort, the biblical picture reveals something far more powerful and awe-inspiring.

Angels are God’s elite forces – mighty warriors, faithful messengers, and devoted protectors. They operate under direct orders from the Father, carrying out His will with precision and power. Throughout Scripture, we see them announcing the most important news in history, strengthening Jesus during His earthly ministry, and serving as ministering spirits to believers.

What’s remarkable is that these powerful beings are actively involved in your life right now. They’re not distant, uninvolved spectators but are specifically sent to serve those who will inherit salvation – that includes you! While we don’t pray to angels or worship them (we have direct access to God through Jesus), we can take great comfort knowing that heaven’s warriors are working on our behalf.

This truth should fill us with confidence, not anxiety. When you’re facing challenges that seem

overwhelming, remember that you’re not facing them alone. God has assigned His angels to work in unseen ways for your good and His glory. You may never see them, but they’re there, carrying out the Father’s perfect plan for your life.

Bible Verse

 

“Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?” – Hebrews 1:14

Reflection Question

 

How does knowing that God has assigned angels to work on your behalf change your perspective on the challenges you’re currently facing?

 

Quote

Angels are not baby faces with harps, little fat Joby baby, little baby angel. They’re warriors. They’re messengers. They’re protectors. They work under the authority and by the command of the Father.

 

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Your angels to work on my behalf. Help me to trust in Your unseen provision and protection, even when I can’t see how You’re working. Give me peace knowing that Your warriors are fighting for me and carrying out Your perfect will in my life. Amen.

Day 3: The Enemy's Playbook Exposed

Devotional

Every good coach studies the opponent’s playbook to understand their strategies and weaknesses. In our spiritual battle, it’s crucial to understand how the enemy operates so we can recognize his tactics and stand firm against them.

Demons are fallen angels who chose rebellion over obedience, and now they’re on a mission to strike back at God by targeting what He loves most – you and me. Their strategy is surprisingly predictable: they steal, kill, and destroy through lies, division, addiction, and unforgiveness. They rarely start with dramatic, obvious attacks. Instead, they begin with small compromises, subtle deceptions, and gradual shifts away from God’s truth.

Here’s their most effective tactic: making the harmful seem familiar and comfortable. What starts as a small compromise slowly becomes normal, then acceptable, then desirable. Before we know it, we’re walking down a path that leads away from God’s best for our lives.

But here’s the encouraging truth: once you understand their playbook, their power over you diminishes dramatically. When you can recognize a lie for what it is, it loses its ability to deceive you. When you understand that division and unforgiveness are weapons being used against you, you can choose unity and forgiveness instead. The enemy’s tactics only work in darkness – when we shine God’s light on them, they lose their power.

 

Bible Verse

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – John 10:10

 

Reflection Question

What areas of your life might the enemy be using small compromises or familiar patterns to gradually lead you away from God’s best?

 

Quote

Their goal was the same as the enemies. In John 10:10, the thief comes, but to kill, steal and destroy. So what do they do? They deceive, they tempt, and they destroy.

 

Prayer

Lord, give me discernment to recognize the enemy’s tactics in my life. Help me to see through his lies and resist his attempts to lead me away from Your truth. Strengthen me to choose Your abundant life over the enemy’s destructive path. Fill me with Your wisdom to recognize deception before it takes root. Amen.

Day 4: Greater Is He

Devotional

One of the most liberating truths in Scripture is this: if you’re a believer, you cannot be possessed by demonic forces. Why? Because Christ lives in you, and where Christ dwells, darkness cannot take up residence. Your body has become the temple of the Holy Spirit, and greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

This doesn’t mean the enemy stops trying to influence you – he can still oppress from the outside, attempting to affect your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. But he cannot own you, control you, or possess you. You belong to God, and that’s a truth the enemy cannot change no matter how hard he tries.

The key to walking in this victory is recognizing the authority and power you carry as a child of God. Too often, we live like defeated victims when we should be walking like victorious warriors. Every encounter in the Gospels shows demons terrified of Jesus – and if they’re terrified of Jesus, they should be terrified of you because Christ lives in you.

When you truly understand who you are in Christ and the authority you carry, everything changes. You stop being intimidated by the enemy’s threats and start walking in the confidence that comes from knowing you’re on the winning side. The battle may be real, but the victory is already yours.

 

Bible Verse

“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

 

Reflection Question

In what specific situations do you need to start walking in the authority and victory you have in Christ rather than living like a defeated victim?

 

Quote

If Christ lives in you, you can’t get any more of God. Your body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. He is inside of you, which means if Christ is in you, greater is in you that he that’s in the world, which is Satan.

 

Prayer

Father, thank You that Christ lives in me and that I cannot be possessed by the enemy. Help me to walk in the authority and power You’ve given me as Your child. When the enemy tries to intimidate or oppress me, remind me that greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. Give me confidence to stand firm in this truth. Amen.

Day 5: Walking in Victory Daily

Devotional

Understanding spiritual warfare isn’t meant to make us paranoid or fearful – it’s meant to equip us for daily victory. When you know you’re in a battle, you can prepare accordingly and fight with confidence rather than stumbling around in confusion.

Your victory strategy is surprisingly simple but incredibly powerful. First, recognize your authority in Christ – you’re not a helpless victim but a victorious child of God. Second, pray with confidence in Jesus’ name, knowing that His name carries all authority in heaven and earth. Third, fill your life with spiritual truth through God’s Word, worship, and fellowship with other believers. Finally, walk daily in the Spirit’s power, allowing Him to guide your decisions and responses.

Remember, God always lives in your present and future, while the enemy wants to keep you chained to your past. When you feel the weight of old failures, past mistakes, or previous defeats, recognize this as the enemy’s strategy to rob you of the victory God has for you today.

Every day is a new opportunity to walk in the authority Christ has given you. When you show up knowing who you are and whose you are, the enemy should be the one who’s intimidated. You carry the presence and power of the living God – that’s not something to take lightly or live beneath.

 

Bible Verse

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6:13

 

Reflection Question

What practical steps will you take this week to walk more confidently in the spiritual authority and victory God has given you?

 

Quote

When you show up, the devil should be like, oh, crap. Because you carry such authority and the power and the presence of God in your life.

 

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the victory You’ve already won for me. Help me to live each day in the confidence of who I am in You. When the enemy tries to discourage or defeat me, remind me of the authority I carry as Your child. Fill me with Your Spirit and equip me to stand firm in every battle I face. May Your presence in my life be so evident that darkness flees before me. Amen.