Christian Writers Circle

Holy Temple
by Judy Hitson

1 Cor. 6:19 NKJV Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Wow! Think about it Christian, that your body is a temple of God’s Holy Spirit.

What comes to mind as you think about that?

For me, it is convicting and revealing my need of change. Although I pray to be filled, anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, the desires of the flesh lure me at times to veer off God’s ways. There have been many changes in my life since I received Christ as a born again Christian that I will be eternally grateful for. Yet after 45 years, there are still areas I struggle with in my life.    

Being in my latter years, I confess there are still some guilty pleasures I enjoy from junk foods to watching some secular programs on TV. I hear my youngest son say, “Mom, I can’t believe you watch that!”

The Lord prompted me to memorize the following verse one day during my quiet time and it struck my heart to the core. My need is to hear and consider what the Lord is saying to me in personal ways for my life.

James 1:21 NKJV Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

That verse brings to mind, 1 Peter 1:9 NKJV receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Think about the end of our faith as the salvation of our souls, our mind, will and emotions. That is my desire but I see that I have a long way to go. The way I see it from the Bible, we receive Christ in our spirit when we are born again and as we mature in our faith, we pray and long to be filled with the Spirit, filling our spirit and soul. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who gives us life to live Christ with our body as a holy temple.  

This morning as I was writing this devotional, the following verse seemed perfect for our closing prayer:

2 Cor. 7:1 NKJV Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.