Equipped by the Spirit

The Focus: Isaiah 11:2 (KJV): "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." 

The Holy Spirit provides three distinct pairings for our daily walk: Wisdom and understanding to see life from heaven's perspective; Counsel and might to make the right decisions and possess the courage to execute them; and then, knowledge and the fear of the Lord to deeply know God's heart while maintaining a profound reverence for His holiness. When the Spirit "rests" upon us, we no longer have to navigate life using the fragile reserve of our own human talent.

When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men not only interpret his dream but also guess what it was, everyone failed except Daniel. The Bible notes that God gave Daniel "skill in all learning and wisdom". Secular rulers openly recognized that an "excellent spirit" and "light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him". Daniel was not a passive academic; he was a top-tier government administrator. He possessed the spirit of counsel to manage an empire and the supernatural might to stand firm when his faith was criminalized. His divine courage was put on full display when he calmly faced the lions' den rather than compromising his prayer life. Daniel’s entire life was anchored in an intimate knowledge of God’s prophetic timeline. Yet, this intimacy was beautifully balanced with a profound fear of the Lord. He refused to defile himself with the king’s pagan food, choosing to honor God’s holiness over royal luxury and comfort. Daniel lived out the sevenfold Spirit long before the New Testament church was born.

We also can do better having been baptized by the Spirit of God. Please start by identifying the heaviest problem you are facing today. Stop trying to solve it using your own mental strength. Explicitly ask the Holy Spirit to "rest" upon you with His wisdom and understanding for that specific issue. Before making any major decisions this week, pause and lean into the Spirit of counsel. Ask God to align your strategy with His will rather than your own emotions. In moments of private temptation, remember that the fear of the Lord is a shield. Choose to honor God in secret, knowing that His eyes see everything.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I recognize that I cannot live a victorious life in my own strength or intellect. I ask that you would rest upon me today just as you rested upon Daniel. Fill me with the spirit of wisdom and understanding for my choices, counsel and might for my battles, and a deep knowledge and fear of the Lord for my worship. Let my life reflect your excellent spirit in everything I do in Jesus' name, Amen.

Please share. God bless you.