This morning, I want you to close your eyes, take a couple of deep breaths, let the morning hustle fall away, and just focus on this moment because Jesus has something important to remind you of.
The gift of His Spirit is within you. That is right. You, my friend, are a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and because He lives within us, you have access to His power, knowledge, and good fruits.
I'm not sure about you, but each time I am reminded of this truth, I am like, "WOW!" It is just amazing to be reminded that I am filled with the Spirit of God. A transformative power that can change your life and the lives of those around you.
Luke 24:49
"And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven."
John 14:26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
This year, at PrayerBowls, we are going to focus on our relationship with the Holy Spirit, the one God sent to guide our steps, counsel, advise, and direct us; the ultimate Life Coach, and we can access Him 24/7.
We hope you will join us as we let our roots grow deep. Through reading scripture, prayer, worship, and fellowship, let's continuously be filled with the truths that as children of God, we get to live loved beyond measure, forgiven, and free from shame; we have a purpose, we are healed, we are His masterpiece, and He is with us in every moment of every day. When we accept this and live in this place, we will bear His good fruits.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
So, each month this year, we will share a blog on a specific Fruit of the Spirit—the beautiful fruits that are who God is and are shared with us through His Spirit. In Galatians 5: 16-26, we are challenged to live a life through the Spirit's power. When we do, we will produce good fruits that can be shared with others, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Living By The Spirt's Power
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Almighty Father,
I am in awe that I am a chosen vessel for your Spirit; thank you for this wonderful gift. Let your Spirit direct my steps, knowing that your ways are higher than my ways and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Help me to surrender myself, saying less of me, Lord, and more of you, so I can walk according to your will, bear your good fruit, and share your love with all the world.
Amen
