Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
Every family goes through hard times—loss, stress, changes. The Holy Spirit wants us to know: these hard days are real, but they are not forever. Something greater is coming.
As a family, we’re not alone in our struggles. The Spirit strengthens us, helps us comfort one another, and keeps our eyes on what matters most—eternal life with Jesus.
Family Talk:
What has been hard for our family recently?
How can we keep encouraging each other with the hope of God’s glory?
Prayer: Father, help our family to hold onto hope. Let Your Spirit keep our eyes on what is coming, not just what we’re facing now. Thank You that Your glory will be worth it all. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
Suffering can feel endless when you’re in it. But Scripture doesn’t deny your pain—it puts it in perspective.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t promise to remove every trial, but He walks with you through it. He’s the voice reminding you, “This won’t last forever. Glory is coming. You won’t regret holding on.”
Challenge: Think about something hard you’ve gone through. Can you see any growth or good that came from it? If not yet, ask the Spirit to help you trust anyway.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me not to give up when life is hard. Let Your hope shape how I see my trials. Remind me: glory is coming. Amen.
“For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” — Romans 8:13 (NASB1995)
The Power to Obey Comes from the Spirit
Many Christians are trying to live holy lives by sheer effort—by rules, routines, and resolutions.
But the early Church knew the truth: Obedience doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from walking in the Spirit.
They didn’t live holy because they had stronger willpower. They lived holy because they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they surrendered to His transforming work in them.
Not Lawless — Not Legalistic
Spirit-led obedience isn’t license, and it isn’t legalism. It’s not:
A checklist of rules
A performance to earn God’s favor
A burden of impossible standards
It’s new life from within.
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” — Ezekiel 36:27
This is the obedience the early Church displayed—an obedience birthed from love, grace, and the Spirit’s indwelling power.
The Witness of the Early Church
The Ante-Nicene believers lived with radical purity, sacrificial love, and fearless endurance. But it wasn’t moral superiority—it was Spirit-empowered surrender.
“The Spirit dwelling in us produces self-control, patience, and purity. These are not the works of man, but of God.” — Athenagoras, Plea for the Christians, c. AD 177
They didn’t excuse sin. They overcame it.
They didn’t lower the bar. They leaned into grace.
And they didn’t claim their strength. They testified to His.
The Flesh Fights, the Spirit Frees
The modern Church often swings between:
Moral effort (Try harder!)
Grace as permission (God understands…)
But neither are the way of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn’t excuse sin. He empowers you to crucify it.
He:
Convicts (John 16:8)
Cleanses (Titus 3:5)
Transforms (2 Cor. 3:18)
Strengthens (Eph. 3:16)
He is the power to obey what the flesh cannot.
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16
A Life That Shines
The early believers stood out—not because they were impressive, but because the Spirit of God lived in them. Their obedience was radiant. Costly. Beautiful. Powerful.
They loved their enemies. They gave to the poor. They endured persecution. They resisted sin. They forgave quickly. They lived holy lives in a filthy world.
Because the Holy Spirit was not a doctrine to them—He was their daily strength.
Kingdom Discipleship Reflection
Am I trying to obey God in my own strength—or by the Spirit’s power?
Have I made peace with sins the Spirit wants to crucify?
Do I see the fruit of the Spirit increasing in my life—or has my growth stalled?
This week, ask the Spirit:
“What area of my life needs Your power to obey?” Then surrender it. Confess it. Invite Him to transform it.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
Some seasons bring pain so heavy it silences your prayers. But Paul, by the Spirit, reminds us: these present sufferings aren’t the end. They aren’t even worth comparing to what’s coming.
The Spirit anchors your soul to eternity—whispering that glory is not just ahead, but already at work in you. Don’t lose heart. This moment is not forever. But God’s glory is.
Reflection: What suffering has been trying to speak louder than God’s promises? Ask the Spirit to help you reframe it in light of eternity.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, lift my eyes from this moment to eternity. Give me hope that endures and remind me this suffering cannot compare to what You’ve prepared. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
Have you ever had a really hard day? Maybe you got hurt, or someone was mean. God knows it’s hard—but He also wants you to know something special: better days are coming.
The Bible says our hard times now are tiny compared to the forever-happy days God has planned for His children. The Holy Spirit helps us keep going and reminds us that God is with us.
Try This: Draw a picture of what you think heaven might look like. Talk to Jesus about it.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank You for helping me when life is hard. Please remind me that something better is coming! Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
What a staggering truth: we are heirs of God—not merely beneficiaries of blessings, but co-heirs with Christ Himself. It means the Kingdom isn’t just something we look forward to—it’s part of our identity now.
But there’s a condition we often avoid: “if indeed we suffer with Him.” The path to glory walks through trials. Yet the Spirit within us strengthens us to endure, testifying that even suffering isn’t wasted. It shapes us to reflect Jesus.
Reflection: Do you see your trials as part of your inheritance journey? How might the Holy Spirit be using them to form Christ in you?
Prayer: Spirit of God, help me walk through suffering with eyes fixed on the inheritance ahead. Teach me to trust the glory You are preparing. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
You’re not just surviving life—you’re heir to something eternal. As a co-heir with Christ, you’re promised more than comfort or popularity—you’re promised glory. But don’t miss this: that glory comes through suffering, not around it.
Jesus didn’t avoid pain—He walked through it. And the Spirit that raised Him now lives in you, helping you endure every moment, every heartbreak, every trial.
Challenge: Write down one way God might be shaping your character through something hard right now. Invite the Spirit to strengthen you in it.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, I want to be more like Jesus. Help me not to run from suffering but to walk through it with You, holding on to the hope of glory. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
What does it mean to be “heirs with Christ”? It means everything Jesus has promised is ours too—eternal life, peace, joy, and one day, being with Him forever. But right now, we live in a broken world, and the journey includes struggle.
The Holy Spirit helps us see suffering differently: not as punishment, but as preparation for glory. As a family, we can walk through hardship together, confident that God is shaping us for something greater.
Family Talk:
What does being an “heir of God” mean to you?
How can we support each other when life gets hard?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling us into Your family. May we suffer with hope, love with courage, and trust the Spirit to lead us toward glory. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” — Romans 8:17 (NASB 1995)
Because we belong to God, we’re part of His special family. That means we’ll one day be with Jesus forever and receive wonderful things from Him!
Sometimes we have hard days—but Jesus had hard days too. And when we go through tough times, the Holy Spirit helps us remember: we are part of His family, and He has a big reward waiting.
Try This: Draw a treasure chest and write inside it: “I’m a child of God!”
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, thank You that I get to be in God’s family. Help me remember that even hard days are part of following Jesus. Amen.
Empowered: The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer devotional series
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16 (NASB 1995)
]]There are days you wonder if you’re enough—if your faith is real, if God truly sees you. In those quiet moments, the Holy Spirit doesn’t shout. He testifies—He confirms. Like a gentle witness who comes alongside your weary heart, He reminds you: You are His.
This truth isn’t based on your feelings or performance. It’s sealed in your identity. Daughter of the King. Child of God. Fully loved.
Reflection: What voice are you listening to today—fear, doubt, or the Holy Spirit’s assurance?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, testify to my heart again. Let Your voice be louder than my doubts. I am Yours. Amen.
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