This book may be read cover to cover, just like any other book. However, we encourage you to explore the optional interactive elements for a more personalized experience: Each chapter of this book is divided into five suggested daily readings with corresponding devotions at the end of the chapter. You can choose to complete one reading and one devotion per day, or you can adapt these elements to your preference. We suggest that those participating in a group study complete the reading and devotions for one chapter per week. If you are reading this book as part of the Messenger Series study on The Holy Spirit: An Introduction, we recommend that you watch or listen to each week’s teaching session and answer the discussion questions as a group. Then, read the chapter in the book and complete the devotions. There is one teaching session for each chapter in this book. Discussion questions for each chapter are located after the daily devotions.
Many children struggle today with what experts call attachment disorder. That’s the failure of children and young adults to create significant bonds with their parents or others as they get older. They stumble down a road toward broken relationships. They enter young adulthood—and later marriage—with a deep desire for connection but without the understanding, modeling, experience, or confidence that they really can build loving, lasting relationships for themselves. They step back from what they want most because they’ve never seen what it looks like to have someone step toward them.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
Money wont make you rich, because it is not meant to do so. To be rich is to understand the meaning of money and wealth and to know the difference between the two. Money is not necessarily wealth, so most people who desire to be rich are not necessarily looking for money. What they are actually looking for is wealth. Money only comes to people who are already rich or wealthy in spirit and soul, so it’s actually not money that makes you rich you are rich before money even comes your way. Money only responds when these elements are in place, and until such a time,money won’t move in your direction. Money won’t make you rich, because a man who is poor in spirit is poor altogether, even when he has a lot of money in his pocket. Money without the wealth of the soul is equaled to a compilation of sorrows and regrets.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.
—1 Corinthians 9:22
Christ left heaven, became one of us, endured the worst from us, and served us to save us. Paul sacrificed everything to share the Gospel with both Jews and Gentiles and be able to save some. What have we done… what have we left… what have we given up… what have we endured… what have we done to become someone better able to share Jesus with those we love, know, or influence? Even more, what have we done to reach the lost, whom we don’t know, and who are not like us so that they can follow Jesus?
Rajesh and Meera had been married for ten years, and despite their best efforts, they couldn’t conceive a child. The couple had visited countless doctors and tried numerous treatments, but nothing worked. Their last hope was in the power of prayer. Rajesh suggested they go to Tiruvannamalai for the Girivalam pilgrimage, trusting in the legend […]
Anita had always felt disconnected from the spiritual side of life. Even though she came from a religious family, she couldn’t relate to the rituals and prayers that meant so much to her parents. Her life revolved around work, and she often found herself stressed and unhappy. One day, after a particularly difficult breakup and […]
Ravi was a troubled young man who had fallen into bad company. Drugs and crime had led him to stray from the righteous path. His mother, Shanti, spent sleepless nights praying for her son, begging for divine intervention to save him. In her despair, she heard of Girivalam at Tiruvannamalai and decided to undertake the […]
Leela had been diagnosed with a chronic illness that no treatment seemed to cure. Her health had deteriorated to a point where doctors advised her to live life to the fullest with the little time she had left. Heartbroken, she decided to embark on one final spiritual journey to Tiruvannamalai, the sacred place of Arunachala. […]