Welcome to today.

It’s going to be a bit different than yesterday. And probably different than tomorrow.

Hopefully you’ll experience some good things today. A laugh, a favourite meal, or something meaningful to do in God’s service.

But you’ll probably also experience something difficult, won’t you? A tear, a tough decision, a pain that won’t let go.

I recently came across a quote by Mark Twain: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”*

The first time I read it I thought, ‘Hmm, clever; nice turn-of-phrase.’ But it’s not very helpful if you don’t feel like you have any fight inside of you in the first place!

But then I remembered…

In John 14:17, Jesus tells his disciples that the Holy Spirit himself will live within them! “But you know him [the Holy Spirit], for he lives with you and will be in you.”

With that in mind, Twain’s thought points us to a greater promise in the Lord. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight (meaning that it doesn’t matter how big you may or may not be as you face the challenges in front of you); what matters is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within you!

Time and time again we learn—no matter how old or young we are—that our strength, hope and victory are authored by God, not us. And that, my friends, is very good news.

Have hope. The Holy Spirit doesn’t know defeat. Therefore, neither do you.

By Matthew Ruttan

–I put new words to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” The song is called “Gather as the Wounded Saviour.” Why not take a listen and look on YouTube here? [If you’re a worship leader, feel free to use in worship or on social media for free.)

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.

–*As quoted in: Craig Groeschel, The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as if He Doesn’t Make a Difference (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 247.