Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

Your Nightly Prayer

Are You Grieving the Holy Spirit?
Your Nightly Prayer for Apr. 30, 2025
By Lynette Kittle

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” - Ephesians 4:30

SOMETHING TO PONDER

God urges us to not grieve the Holy Spirit, but how do we know if we are grieving Him? Are there signs or signals to let us know? How are we able to tell when we are? As Ephesians 1:13 explains, once we accept Christ as our Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”

Still, many of us are clueless when it comes to knowing whether or not we are grieving Him, unaware of what we might be doing to cause grief and sorrow, seeming so unclear to us what that might look like. The following are ways we may be grieving Him, such as not caring for our bodies. Being careless with our bodies by putting hurtful substances into them or through sexual immorality grieves the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us,

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

Once we receive Christ, we belong to Him, not the enemy, and certainly not to ourselves. If we’re being led and influenced more by the world’s lifestyles in how we care for our bodies than by living a godly lifestyle, we are grieving the Holy Spirit. As well, if we’re living to satisfy our own desires over God’s desires for our lives, we can be assured that we’re grieving the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul in Romans 13:14 urges,

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”

If we’re not sure of the difference between living for ourselves and living for God, we can find direction by reading and studying God’s word, which, through it, will direct, teach, and remind us of the things that please God. As John 14:26 explains,

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Also, if we’re lacking in our love towards others, we are grieving the Holy Spirit. As Galatians 5:22 describes how love is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

Another indication is if we are rejecting the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives. When we’re cautioned or directed to resist or turn away from various thoughts, words, and actions, we have a choice whether or not to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Resisting following the Holy Spirit’s voice leads to a hardening of our hearts. As Hebrews 3:7-8 reminds us, “So, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness.’”

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Father,
Forgive us for the ways we grieve Your Holy Spirit. Lead us in taking care of our bodies as Your temple. Free us from chasing after our own desires and pleasures. Teach us to love one another and attune our ears to hear and follow Your Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives. Cleanse our hearts and minds, and flush out our deaf ears to hear His voice and follow His leading. Rid our hearts of the hardness that we’ve allowed to build up in our lives, and renew our minds to listen and follow His ways. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Are there ways that come to mind of how you may be grieving the Holy Spirit? If so, take time to consider and bring them before the Lord in repentance.

2. In reviewing the ways to grieve the Holy Spirit, are you able to recall times when He was speaking to you in each of these areas? Did you follow His leading or choose your own way?

3. Are there specific times and instances where you remember His gentle leading and you did follow His voice? If so, what were the outcomes?

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

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