The Spirit is alive and resides in each of us.

“God by His providence brings you into circumstances that you can’t understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose through the intercession of the Spirit in you.” –Oswald Chambers
 
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” –Romans 8:26-28
 
This passage has been such an encouragement to me this week. The other day I was reading a letter someone wrote me before I left for Guatemala, they were saying how proud they were of me for listening to the Lord’s call and following it by coming to Guatemala. They were encouraging me by saying how they knew I was going to have an impact on the people here. The first time I read that letter, before I left, I was encouraged. But the other day when I read it I only felt discouraged because I don’t feel like I have made an impact here at all. I know this trip has been wonderful for my personal relationship with God but sometimes I feel as though I haven’t made a difference here at all.  When I read this passage in “My Utmost for His Highest” the other morning I was affirmed in that I myself am not making a difference here, however; the Spirit of God in me is certainly making a tremendous impact here. Even when I can’t see it, the Spirit of God is working through me. One night during our time in Honduras we went to a church service and while we were worshipping I felt a strong urge to pray for a woman across the room. I really didn’t want to but after a couple songs the feeling still didn’t go away so I walked over and laid my hands on her and prayed. As I started praying I realized I had absolutely no clue what to say, so I just was silent and had faith that the Spirit would work through me. Afterward I went back to my seat and felt the Lord saying simply, “well done my good and faithful servant.” I don’t know why I prayed for that woman, I don’t know why I feel led to pray for half the people here that I lay hands on, but that passage gave me confidence that God does. Even though I don’t understand most things that I do here, the Lord does and I need to continue to have confidence that His Spirit is working in me and through me constantly.