IN SPIRITU

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 305

I can’t remember exactly what day it was—might’ve been Wednesday night confirmation, or perhaps a week ago when I met with my peers for lunch. (Let's be honest, the days blend together.) Nevertheless, for whatever reason, the subject of AI came up. Wait, now that I think about it—it was confirmation. Yep, definitely confirmation.

Anyway, we were talking about homework and expectations, and I laid down the law: they weren’t allowed to use AI, because I’d catch them. That’s when one of the tweens piped up with a premium dose of Gen Alpha sass—which, I have to admit, made me laugh internally—and said, “What, like you do for your sermons?”

What the kid meant was the AI-derived pictures I use behind my sermon slides.

Yup, the kiddo was half right. Most weeks I utilize one AI model or another to create the background graphics for our bulletins and screens. HOWEVER, as I firmly noted to our youthful brothers and sisters, I ain’t ever once used a digital agent to write my sermons. For me, that’s a massive No-No!!

NOT. GONNA. HAPPEN. Some things are just taboo.

Today, as I do most Fridays, I began my sermonizing with a simple prayer: “God, speak to me and speak through me. Fill my mind with what I and your congregation need to know.” Then, I go to town—reading, taking notes, researching, taking more notes, and drafting the structure so I can actually write my manuscript.

Some days the pipeline seems wide open, and others... well, not as much. Today, the Spirit of God must’ve really cranked open my valve, because the ideas just flowed. Prayerfully, that’ll be apparent on Sunday.

To Him, I give thanks. He is the ultimate source of in-spiration (literally, breathing life into us) for me, for you, and for us all. When we read the Word, He speaks to us, often in that “still small voice.” He is the One who breathed life into Adam, and I believe, into us all. And daily, He works within us to sanctify us and make us righteous in the likeness of Christ. How can we not give thanks to the Holy Spirit of God?

Anyway, I’m thankful the Lord has given us His Spirit to live within us, and to be our daily source of in spiritu for… well, everything that leads to everlasting life with Him.

What are you thankful for today?