Who or what guides your thoughts and actions? The Holy Spirit, which arrived on Pentecost and now resides in the hearts of baptized believers, empowers us to control our thoughts, words, and deeds.

When Joshua confronted what seemed like an insurmountable barrier, the floodwaters receded only after he boldly stepped into the rushing current in faithful obedience. God's power flows forth from our faithful and obedient actions. We must be faithful and obedient to unlock that power. When we move forward in our weakness, doing the right things despite our fears and feelings, we unleash the power of the Holy Spirit.

Friends, we can't just sit around and wait for spiritual growth; we must actively nurture our growth through God's Word daily! Scripture tells us that we are "transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). The Greek word for "transformed" is metamorphosis; it's the same word used to describe the change a caterpillar undergoes in becoming a butterfly.

This is a beautiful illustration of our spiritual transformation when we faithfully allow the Holy Spirit to reshape our thoughts and actions. We are then gradually transformed from the inside out, becoming more and more Christ-like, empowered, and emboldened to soar to new heights.

May we continue to nurture our faith in God's Word to unlock the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.

Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg