Find Your Spark

Look for inspiration today. Read a favorite book, listen to uplifting music, or connect with motivational people.

Sources of Inspiration

• Watch a video about transformation or wellness.

• Share a quote that inspires you with a friend.

Let inspiration guide you toward a deeper commitment to Jesus.

Actionable Whispers

“And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” 1 Kings 19:12–13

Years ago, I went through months where, while driving, the Lord would bring a specific person to mind. There was no obvious reason other than the quiet thought: “I should text or call them to see how they’re doing.” Sadly, I did not respond to that gentle whisper in my heart. The whisper would come three times over a year—I ignored it—and those people passed away within days, weeks, or months of those thoughts.

Needless to say, I asked the Lord to show me what I was missing as I began to see a pattern.

Why Would This Happen?

I believe God placed us on this earth, saved us, and empowered us to be the body of Jesus Christ in word and deed. If that is true, we must be able to hear timely information from the Holy Spirit so we can be His hands and feet.

1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

As Saint Teresa of Avila beautifully said: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion for the world looks out. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”

We need more than just our daily Scripture reading from this morning. We need actionable intelligence—timely, specific information from the Holy Spirit.

In 2004, during a mission in Baghdad, Iraq, I was tasked with sneaking into a mosque to gather critical details. All we had was satellite imagery and outside photographs. My superiors needed more—actionable intelligence—information immediately available to deal with the situation at hand. So, after midnight, I went in and whispered what I saw over the radio. That intelligence was vital; no one could enter those protected grounds without it.

My friends, the Holy Spirit has eyes on the inside. He has already “snuck into” every heart, soul, and mind in this world. He knows everything and wants to share actionable intelligence with us—so we can storm the gates of hell and set the captives free.

Remember Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to preach good news to the poor… to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Why? So we can carry out His mission. We need the Spirit upon us. We need to hear His whispers of actionable intelligence—details no one else knows except Him.

Just last week, while praying and writing these devotionals, the Lord put a man on my heart whom I had spoken to for only about 30 seconds years ago. A Scripture came to mind (in a whisper). I looked him up on Messenger, sent the verse, and the next morning he replied: “Wow… Wow… Wow… I have been under so much attack lately… You have no idea how timely this word is; it shows how much God loves us and is hearing my prayers.”

Three days later, he drove three hours to a worship night. We prayed over him, and the Lord whispered again as we shared. The following morning, his response: “Holy Spirit broke loose today while I led worship at church… Whatever you guys did and prayed over my girlfriend and me, it worked. I have been struggling to be free, and after prayer, now I am.”

Respond humbly to the whisper of actionable intelligence today.

Meditation Questions

1. Lord, please show me where You have whispered, and I have ignored.

2. Holy Spirit, help me recognize Your still small voice and take risks by humbly responding.

3. Jesus, show me how to be obedient.

Meditative Passages

• Luke 4:18

• 1 Corinthians 12:27

• 1 Kings 19:12–13
  
  

  

Actionable Steps

One way to become attuned to the whisper is to take risks. Yes—the risk is key to going farther with the Lord than you’re comfortable with.

For example: When a person comes to mind, pause and ask the Lord: “What do You want me to do with this? Is this person coming to mind for a reason?”

Sometimes you get specific answers, other times a verse, or just the nudge to call and check in to learn more. I don’t want another person to pass without me responding to the Lord’s whispers. We must be willing to take a risk by responding humbly to the Lord’s actionable intelligence.

Listen today. Obey humbly. The Spirit is speaking.