My Hidden Features Moment
I recently stumbled across something surprising about my iPhone. Apparently, the Apple logo on the back of the phone is not just decorative. It’s actually a programmable button. I had no clue. For example, I set mine up so that, if I double tap the back of my phone, my flashlight turns on. If I triple tap, my camera opens.
Realizng that I have this thing in my hand every single day and I never once recognized this capability was a little humbling. If it was hidden in plain sight, what else might be hiding?
I started looking into all kinds of hidden features buried in my phone settings:
- shortcuts,
- accessibility tools,
- automation features,
- camera functions,
- focus settings,
- gestures,
- and little conveniences I never knew existed.
The range of what’s possible seems almost bottomless. I hold in my hand this amazingly powerful device and for the most part all I do is call people, text, and consume content. I use my phone every day, yet I had only scratched the surface of what it was capable of doing.
I started wondering –
What if every day for fifty days I learned one new feature about my phone?
How much more useful would it become?
How much easier would certain tasks become?
How much more intentional and efficient would my daily life feel?
The value of my phone would dramatically expand, not because there was anything new on it, but simply because I became more aware of its capabilities.
Exploring the Holy Spirit
I wonder how many Christians live this way spiritually. We have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are told this gift is a Spirit of power, and love, and self-control, but how much do we really live into that in our daily lives?
Consider the many ways scripture describes the Holy Spirit:
- comforter,
- counselor,
- advocate,
- teacher,
- helper,
- guide,
- source of wisdom,
- giver of spiritual gifts,
- and the very presence of God dwelling with us.
I don’t know about you, but I could use more of all of the above.
The range of who and what the Holy Spirit is extraordinary when you really stop to think about it. And yet, personnally I’m minimally experiencing the range of this gift – Not because the Holy Spirit is absent. Instead, because I’m overlooking and unaware, of many of aspect of the Holy Spirit, much like my phone features.
I suspect I’m not alone in that.
Many Christians genuinely want a deeper spiritual life. Many people want greater peace, wisdom, discernment, and closeness with God. All of these are inherently a part of the Holy Spirit.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the Holy Spirit, there is often:
- uncertainty,
- confusion,
- hesitation,
- or simply lack of teaching.
Does the Holy Spirit feel mysterious to you? Intimidating? Confusing? Or, do you even think about it? I have to confess, I’ve been neglectful or apathetic way too much with regard to the Holy Spirit.
I think sometimes we assume that awareness of the Holy Spirit must involve something dramatic or emotional. But often the Spirit works in much quieter ways:
- a growing sense of peace,
- conviction,
- wisdom,
- guidance,
- attentiveness,
- comfort,
- clarity,
- compassion,
- or a deeper awareness of God’s presence in ordinary life.
The more I reflect on all this, the more I am realizing gaps in my faith. Lately, I have been starting my day outside lingering in God’s presence for about twenty minutes. After that time of deep inner stillness, I turn my attention inward and actively try to surrender to God’s guidance. This practice is shaping me in a positive way. It’s a little too early in that journey to articulate just how. But, I definitely feel it, and it is profound.
To deepen this growth and expand my own understanding of the Holy Spirit, I’m pulling together a devotional guide called One Minute with the Holy Spirit.
One Minute With the Holy Spirit
Imagine everyday exploring just one feature of the Holy Spirit for fifty days. That’s what this devotional guide is all about. Every day you’ll focus on:
- one Bible verse focused on the Holy Spirit,
- a brief reflection,
- and a simple question designed to help you reflect more deeply and personally.
Some days focus on:
- peace,
- guidance,
- prayer,
- wisdom,
- comfort,
- conviction,
- discernment,
- spiritual fruit,
- or attentiveness to God’s presence.
Think of it as a hidden features guide to the work of the Holy Spirit’s in your everyday life. That phrase keeps resonating with me: hidden features. How often is the Holy Spirit vibrantly at work and we aren’t even noticing?
I suspect many of us are carrying around spiritual gifts, resources, and invitations from God that remain largely unexplored. Not because God is unwilling to give. But because we lack understanding and attentiveness. And, we’re in that hole simply because we don’t slow down long enough to be attentive to the Spirit.
This guide is a super simple way everyday to grab a moment of spiritual attentiveness. I intentionally made this devotional incredibly simple because we live in a noisy world. The daily readings will literally just take one minute, but I believe that one minute can make a defining difference in your relationship with God.
My experience has been that spiritual growth doesn’t only happen through dramatic mountaintop moments. If it does we only find that mountain top because we took one small step after another to get there.
So, I invite you to join me on this 50-day journey. It is simple, free, and yet could be profoundly formative. I’m hoping the presence and impact of the Holy Spirit will be significantly different for you by the end of this journey.
The journey begins on Pentecost Sunday, which feels especially meaningful since Pentecost reminds us of God pouring out His Spirit upon ordinary people in extraordinary ways. Click the button below to get your free devotional guide.
I’m looking forward to being on this journey together. Blessings,
Rev. John Arnold