Day 16: The Spirit

I'm a gifts person. If I want to say "I love you" or show someone I care, I give them something...a note, some money, something special I think they would enjoy. When someone gives me something, it makes me feel loved. Any way you go about it, I love gifts!

As I said in my last post, when I gave my heart to Jesus I was adopted into God's family. I became His child. Because I am His child, Jesus gave me the most incredible gift...the Holy Spirit.

What a gift! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in me! (Romans 8:11). We may have heard that before, but hear it with your heart right now...Jesus was dead, deceased, void of a heartbeat & soul and the Spirit of God brough Him back to life...walking, breathing, touch the scars in my hands LIFE. Then, God put that Spirit inside you and me. If that doesn't say I love you, I don't know what does.

But here's the kicker, so many times I live my life without seeking more of the Spirit. I'll give things a good dose of my own effort, I'll pray & talk to God about things while hoping and waiting for an answer, but for some reason I often forget to just seek & beg for more of God's Spirit. To fully surrender to the Spirit that's alive in me.

It's just like Pastor Rick's sermon this past Sunday. Jesus says, "Come to me all who are weary & burdened & I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28) Why? Because He knows we're worn out from our own wrong thinking & failed efforts.

If I'd just come to Him & take on His yoke I'd experience more of His rest. If I'd just seek the Holy Spirit in the millions of little moments throughout my day, I'd live yielded to the Spirit of God that He's placed inside of me because I am His child.

I read about the Holy Spirit some today. Take a peek at this...
* The mind controlled by the Spirit is life & peace (Romans 8:6)
* The Spirit is our Counselor (John 16:7)
* The Spirit is power to be Jesus's witness (Acts 1:8)
* The Spirit gives eternal life (Galatians 6:8)
* The Spirit intercedes for me when I'm weak (Romans 8:26)
* The Spirit brings love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22)
And, that's just the tip of the ice berg.

I want to encourage each of us, myself included, to spend some time today seeking, begging for more of the Spirit. May His power transform our humanity into the likeness of Jesus Christ!
Jen