The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 WEB.While at the beach one day, I watched some kids playing with a beach ball. They would hit the ball, and it would soar high into the air but then gradually drift back down to Earth.
Without some form of lift, the ball always falls to the ground. Yet, if you fill a ball or balloon with helium, then it will begin to float on its own. The ball will rise because of what it contains inside. Its natural state will be modified, and floating will become the new normal.
My walk with God has often been a lot like that beach ball. I can fast, pray, worship, study, and try to walk closely with the Lord, but the moment I let up, the world pulls me right back down to it. Up and then down, I am working hard to breathe my own air into that ball. It can become exhausting.
We are supposed to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) like the Apostles were (Acts 13:52). Because when you are filled with the Spirit, you will soar like a balloon filled with helium. You won't have to exhaust yourself just trying to stay afloat. Of course, it also involves prayer and such. Yet, instead of trying to earn something, we are building ourselves up in the Spirit (Jude 20).
It's a relationship with the Lord. Yet, maintaining a steadfast life-giving relationship with Him is often more difficult than it needs to be. For we tend to create a list of things we should do to measure up. In the meantime, God says, "I never told you to do all those things. Just be filled with My Spirit, and you will do the important things naturally." When you are filled with His Spirit, you will please Him, for the Spirit will guide you.
You can huff and puff and try to do it all yourself, or you can take His advice: Be filled with His Spirit and joy like the Apostles. Let go of the to-do list and instead seek to be filled with the very presence of God. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit! You will find that the things that have been holding you back will suddenly flee. The impossible will become complete, and the closed door will open.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit just as You did the Apostles. I want to live for You today. I choose to let You help me from this day forth. Come into my heart and guide me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.' (Philippians 4:6-7) ~ If you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page:
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AMEN!
Yes, amen Lord.
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen!
In Jesus Name Amen!
AMEN Good Morning Everyone
Yes Lord please do so. In Lord Yeshua's name I pray this, Amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit just as You did the Apostles. I want to live for You today. I choose to let You help me from this day forth. Come into my heart and guide me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray amen
Amen, Pastor Dion! Filled with the Spirit, living His will every day from the inside out. Pure joy!
Thank you Jesus, Amen
Yes, Father! Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let my life be for Your will. Amen!
Amen!!
So very true, trying to do "things" on my own, trying to "please" God when it is His Spirit that "keeps me up" ... thanks for this much-needed message today. I imagine this comes from our human upbringing of trying to please parents, teachers, bosses, and others in our own abilities, to have them approve and love us. God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all we need! So simple, yet I make things so much harder than they need to be, then beat myself up when I fall short of MY expectations!!! Thanks for this today!
Help me Jesus.. I need more of You. Less of me. I love You Lord.
Amen!
Amen and Amen!!! So good to attend today's service again, assembling with my beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord again, being united in one voice worshipping and praying to our Lord!!! Still remembering all the happy songs when I was teaching Sunday school many years ago and how happy we were, all of us, singing "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart . . . "!!! It was and still is JESUS that puts all the Joy, Love and the Peace that passes all understanding, and all I can do is count my blessings!!! (h5) (L)
Help me improve Amen