Preface:
This being my first novena I found myself groping a bit for the form it would take. I thought it might help if I shared with you some notes on the application of it, for lack of a better word. I brought my Bible and a candle into the sanctuary of our church and a clipboard on which to write. I lit the candle and sung a brief refrain of the words “Come Holy Spirit Come.” Those words and the melody of the refrain were words that had gotten me through an extremely difficult time of praying alone on a mountain through the night. That experience came to mind as I sat down; so, I sung the little refrain nine times as a way to focus my heart and mind upon God.
I sat quietly and reflected upon the verse for about 5 minutes or so and then wrote out the meditation and prayer below. I closed my time of prayer by saying the Lord’s Prayer. I plan on this being my pattern for the 9 days: light a candle, open with singing the refrain 9 times, read, reflect, write a meditation and prayer, and close with the Lord’s Prayer. Each day I will be sharing with you the verses, meditation and prayer. If I have some other poignant insight or instruction, I will share that as well. Lastly, I want to note that just by choosing to do this, I have become more mindful about the Holy Spirit. I have been praying periodically through the day for the Holy Spirit to teach me. I look forward to how this practice transforms my discipleship. God is so good.
Verses:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know HIm because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14: 16-17
Meditation:
John 14:16-17 teaches us four truths about the Holy Spirit and offers us a name, the Spirit of Truth.
The first truth is that the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father. This gift is given to us at the request of the Son, Jesus Christ. Implicit within the asking is that Christ is concerned for us and desires that we not be alone. That we are in need of help. The word we sometimes translate as helper, is the greek word “paracletos.” It means one called along side to help. It may be translated also as comforter, advocate or even intercessor.
The second truth is evident in the word “paracletos”–we need help. The Holy Spirit is a gift given to aid us.
The third truth is that this gift is eternal. The Holy Spirit will always be with us. The Spirit is not a temporary aid. The Spirit neither leaves us or expires. Other helpers may come and go, but the The Spirit of truth abides with us always.
The fourth truth is that the Spirit is constantly present. The Spirit abides within us. This is aid that we do not need to call upon and wait for it’s arrival for the Spirit is within us wherever we may go.
The world is mentioned and, in some ways, the Spirit seems a complete counterpoint to the world. The world is temporary–The Spirit eternal. The world is outside of us–The Spirit within. The world contains lies–The Spirit is truth.
Prayer:
Spirit of Truth I give you thanks that you abide in me and abide eternally. Over these next nine days, teach me. Bring to me knowledge of the truth to protect me from all that is untrue. Bring to me not only knowledge of truth, but understanding. I pray that I would grasp the meaning and significance of truth that I may be moved to repentance from lies that ensnare me. I pray not only for knowledge and understanding, but bring to me wisdom that I a might rightly apply the truth that I come to know and understand. Lastly, Spirit of Truth, I pray for You to awaken within me an awareness of you. God’s Word assures me that You abide in me. I admit though that too often I neither feel, observe, or heed your presence. This saddens me. May this be no more. May the Spirit of Truth prevail in my every word, action and attitude that I might honor God. I pray these things in the name of the Son, who beseeched the Father to send you to me as a gift. With a heart full of gratitude. Amen.