What happens when you turn on a lamp that is not plugged in? Nothing. The Christian life is impossible for us to live unless we stay connected to God’s power source, the Holy Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses ...” Acts 1:8
The Bible speaks of God as being one God who exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit to lead us to truth, to comfort us, and to help us live a life that pleases God.
The Holy Spirit is the One who raised Jesus from the dead, and also enabled us to be reborn spiritually. When we believed in Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live within us, but He never dominates us or controls us against our will.
We have the opportunity to depend on God the Holy Spirit moment-by-moment to live and work through us. When we disobey God or reject His help, the Holy Spirit does not leave us.
God allows us to try to live life in our own strength. When we fail, it motivates us to turn back to Him for help.
“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation but keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
Just as too much wine influences our actions negatively, being consistently filled with the Holy Spirit changes our actions positively. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit (or the result) of the Holy Spirit working through us as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are in stark contrast to the deeds of the flesh found in Galatians 5:19-21. Galatians 5:16 says, “If you walk by the Spirit, you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
See this website for more on the Holy Spirit.
God, thank you that I was never expected to live this new life on my own. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to help me, strengthen me, comfort me, and lead me deeper into your truths. Show me any specific sins (wrong attitudes or actions) that I need to admit to you that prevent your Holy Spirit from working fully in and through my life. Because I need your help and power, I freely give you control of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Produce Jesus’ character qualities in me. Thank you for hearing and answering these prayers.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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