God's Holy Fire: 'Stifle?'

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT

Key Thought

Have you ever been in the mood to kick up your heels, have some good ol' clean fun, and whoop and holler a little bit, but have found yourself in a formal situation where such behavior would not be tolerated? We feel stifled in such moments. Have you ever wondered how many times you've forced the Holy Spirit into a similar situation — stifling his efforts to encourage, empower, inspire, comfort, thrill, convict, motivate, sanctify, and enable you or others?

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, forgive me for the times that I have stifled the influence of your Holy Spirit in worship, in other parts of my life, and in the lives of others. Please fill, empower, convict, encourage, motivate, inspire, comfort, and enable me, and make me holy through the work of your personal presence, the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I ask this. Amen.

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'With His Own Understanding' (Je. 10:12-13)
"God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Our True Enemy' (Acts 19:13-20)
"A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying,...."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Mark 9:19
"Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means....."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 23:4
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Illustration

Illustration of 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT — Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

More God's Holy Fire

Translations