God's Holy Fire: 'Spirit-Compelled'

Saturday, September 26, 2026

[Paul said,] "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."
— Acts 20:22 NIV

Key Thought

A rocket is propelled by rocket fuel. A follower of Jesus is compelled by the Spirit of the living God and the love of Jesus. So let's honestly look inside our hearts and ask ourselves this important question: "What compels and propels me?" All sources of compulsion and propulsion other than the Spirit of the living God and the love of Jesus will either run out on us or burn us out and destroy us. What is my fuel?

Today's Prayer

Father God, you bought my freedom from sin at the cost of Jesus. You have filled me with your Spirit to empower me and inspire me to do your will. Help me discern the false sources I depend on to fuel me, motivate me, and propel me. I want to be compelled and propelled only by your Spirit and the love of Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

4 Related Resources by Heartlight

Hard Times in the Spirit
Devo: God's Holy Fire
"[Paul, to the Ephesian elders at Miletus:] "But there is another urgency before me now. I feel compelled to go to Jerusalem. I'm completely in the dark about..."
Authentic Ministry
Devo: Unstoppable!
"When [the elders of the Ephesian church] arrived [Paul] declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have..."
Paul's Reasons for the Road
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Beloved Disciple, Paul had many reasons to be on the road. He traveled extensively all over the regions bordering the northern and eastern..."
The Heart of a Shepherd
Devo: A Year with Jesus
"Dear Precious Disciple, Paul was finally on his way back to Jerusalem. His trip had been delayed because of the plots against his life. So he had..."

Illustration

Illustration of Acts 20:22 NIV — [Paul said,] "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, September 26, 2026

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'A Marvelous Message' (1 Th. 1:2-8)
"Dear Father, Thank you for the great numbers of believers in Jesus Christ, for their works of faith, their labors of love, and their steadfastness of..."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'I Know the Greatness of the Lord'
"I know the greatness of the Lord — that our Lord is greater than any other god."
A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Imprisoned to Redeem'
"Dear Beloved, Grace can have a strong touch of redemptive irony! As you read in the verses below about Paul and Silas being thrown into jail, notice...."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

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