Living by the Power of the Holy Spirit
I recently listened online to one of my favorite pastors talking about what it means to live by the Holy Spirit. He asked his congregation what it meant to them to live by the Holy Spirit. I read through the comments and realized so many wanted to have the Holy Spirit but didn’t know how to live by the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
My thoughts came rushing into me powerfully and I made a quick comment below his video about what it meant to me to live by the power of the Holy Spirit. This morning, I woke with this on my mind and decided to share my comment with you.
Living by the power of the Holy Spirit makes you slow to anger and quick to forgive. It makes you humble and reserved in your judgement of others. It makes you ready and willing to serve the Lord in any capacity. It makes you willing to pick up YOUR cross and carry with a cheerful countenance. It makes you slow to complain. It makes you prayerful and mindful and almost keeps you in a constant state of prayer. It makes you wanting to only the will of God and not your own will.. Mostly it makes you joyful, because the Holy Spirit connects you to God and that connection is what gives you joy. So if we are grumpy all the time, complaining or arrogant, we might want to hit our knees.
That was my comment in essence, though my comment was more condensed than that.
This morning, the Lord prompted me to write this down in my blog and add a little to it.
Whey you TRULY invite the Holy Spirit into your life, it changes you. IF YOU LET IT.
This is so important. I’ve seen so many people who are working for God, but not doing it justice.
What kind of message are we, as Christians, sending when we are:
• Constantly complaining - There is this one person I know who is trying to do God’s work, but the first words out of his mouth every single day are... man it’s been a hard day... or... I’m soo tired... or... I’ve been sick... or... I’m not feeling well... or ...allergies are flaring up. It never fails. It’s always some kind of victimhood. Pick up your cross and carry it and do it cheerfully. When we complain about our situation constantly we are adding energy to the problem. This doesn’t mean we can’t vent to a friend, and seek help, but when it becomes a habit, there is a problem.
• Arrogant - Humility is important. That means we understand that the Holy Spirit is needed in our lives and that there is always room for improvement to become more Christlike. We don’t have to be perfect. But we have to try. Jesus said many times, go and sin no more, or if you love me, keep my commandments. Also, don’t be so arrogant that you believe you are the only one who hears from God or who is close to God. Listen to what others have to say and take it to the Lord with an open mind, wanting only to do His will.
• Stern and unfriendly - Look, I get it. There is a lot of evil surrounding us here in these last days. We have to have discernment. We don’t have to be ugly or mean. We DO have to be strong in the face of evil. That though, is not what I mean about being stern and unfriendly. I’m reminded of old movies that had the stern nuns teaching in a school. It always bothered me. Weren’t they supposed to be Christians who believed in Jesus and loved Him? They certainly didn’t have His countenance. They weren’t allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell in them and change them. There are times to be stern when affronted with evil. There are times to be loving and kind.
• Dismiss others without a thought - Again, I get it. Not everyone is a child of God. When we hear people say, “Well, we’re all God’s children,” uh, nope. We are not. But that’s another whole subject for another blog. Just remember, other real people are just as important as we are. Listen, counsel... don’t tickle their ears, tell them the truth and then leave it at Jesus’ feet.
We have to let the Holy Spirit into our lives. Ask to be changed. Acknowledge where the Holy Spirit leads us and he will continue to lead us. Deny him, and he will be gone. Allow him to change our hearts, our countenances, our moods, our victimhood and we will become strong. STRONG!
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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