And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Matthew 22:37-39

Devotion

Some Sunday mornings, I am the donut pick-up person for kids ministry. The routine consists of pulling up to the store, popping my trunk, heading inside to pay, and balancing the massive stack of boxes back to my car. The first time I did this, I was halfway to my trunk when I heard a voice behind me.

“Miss, miss … here, this is for you.”

I turned to see the woman behind the counter hurrying toward me, holding out a small bag. I opened it and inside was an apple fritter. You know, the kind of donut that costs extra? Being the penny pincher I am, it is a donut I would not normally buy for myself. 

I smiled, thanked her, and drove off, thinking it was a super kind gesture, a one-time thing. But then, it happened again. And again. Every time I picked up the order, she followed me out with another special donut.

It wasn’t until the fourth time that I finally understood that she wanted to give me a gift. She wanted me to wait. She wanted me to linger at the counter and receive what she had chosen to give me. So the next time, I didn’t rush out. I stood there, watching her smile as she handed me the bag. 

In a way, this reminds me of the gift of the Holy Spirit. A gift that pursues us. A gift that calls us by name. A gift that invites us to slow down and linger in his presence. The Holy Spirit invites us to receive the fullness of God’s love. We see this invitation in Acts 1:4-5. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he told his disciples, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” 

He didn’t tell them how long they would wait, only that they needed to wait. And because they lingered in that upper room, because they chose to stay, they received something far greater than they could have imagined. The disciples received the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:2,4).

You see, God moves in our lingering. When we choose to remain in his presence, we don’t just experience a fleeting gift of his love; we come to recognize that he is Lord. He is sovereign over all, faithful in every season, and worthy of our trust. As we linger, we come to know his presence is enough. He is the fulfillment of our deepest longings, and in his presence we are shaped, strengthened, and transformed into his likeness. 

It is our choice: to slow down, to linger, and to set our minds and hearts on him. When we do, we create space for the Holy Spirit to do his deepest work in us, drawing us even closer to him. Lingering in his presence leads to more than we expect; it leads to more of him.

Like the woman behind the counter who offered more than what was asked for, God doesn’t just want to give us what we think we need. Our Lord desires to give us something extra, something special. But to receive it, we must choose to linger.

So today, know that he is calling after you. I encourage you to linger. Linger in his presence and receive more than you ever expected.

PRAYER

Lord, help me to slow down and linger in your presence, trusting that you are enough. Open my heart to receive the fullness of your Spirit and all that you desire to give me. Amen.

Beth DeGrace
Pastor, Kids - Edmond

Resources

• Watch How Can We Experience the Holy Spirit's Presence? By Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs.
• Watch Knowing the Spirit of Truth By Taylor Rauschkolb. 
• Listen to Psalm 84 (I’m Home) by Shane & Shane.

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