Filled with the Spirit

” And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35

My daughter and her husband recently purchased a used electric vehicle. She loves it. It allows them to travel around the neighborhood without filling up at the gas station. From their garage, they can plug the unit in each evening and the car recharges its battery overnight. The savings on the gas bill and the convenience of driving a high-tech car has its value in their eyes. Yet, to operate, it needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

My smart phone is a fantastic piece of technology. Today’s user takes for granted the power of the device. A tiny box that serves as a phone, camera, and computer. It allows one to speak with anyone in the world. It takes pictures better than any Polaroid camera I grew up with. And immediate connection into the internet brings the entire world into your hands. Yet it also needs to be recharged on a regular basis.

The male lion is a mighty strong animal. Many consider it the king of the jungle. Yet it rests or sleeps some 20 hours per day. All that strength requires time to recharge its muscles and body to operate on a regular basis.

The same is true for us humans.

We may not need 20 hours of rest each day, but we do need our sleep. Try going one or two days with only a few hours of sleep and see how you function. Most of us by the third day would be a danger to those around us. If driving a car, we would be arrested for “drunk driving.” Our decision-making would be chaotic. Our response time would be awkward and untimely. We would not be in a good condition.

When patients enter the hospital for a length of time, the danger of muscle atrophy sets in. Many a patient upon leaving the hospital has to enter physical therapy so they may learn to walk again. Lying in bed all day causes the muscles to weaken. They need to recharge the muscles in their legs.

There are other mental, social, and economic examples of the need to replenish one’s strength to face life. Yet, the most important one is the relationship with our heavenly Father. If we don’t have a regular routine to keep connected and recharge our spiritual focus, look out. Life will unexpectedly break us down.

Jesus understood this better than anyone. HIS habit was to rise early in the morning and spend quiet time in prayer with his Papa God. He knew where his strength and life came from. He practiced what he preached. He walked the talk.

We all need to recharge. Thinking we can operate at a half-tank only steals from others by us not giving our best in service to them. Love cares. Love cares for others and for the self. But most importantly, love wants to stay connected with the One who loves us the most. For the more we hang out and recharge with the Love Maker, the more love, joy and wisdom we have to share with others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Gal 5:22-25.

In my early walk with the Lord, I took upon myself to start a self-improvement program to develop the fruit of the Spirit in my life. Like the eastern religions, I subjected my body through discipline to become more godlike. At the time I didn’t understand the workings of the Spirit but only that I wanted to experience the riches of God’s Spirit.

Eventually (some ten years later) God opened my eyes to His awesome work in me through the Holy Spirit’s influence on my heart. In hindsight, the first ten years of being a disciple, I was led through humanism to make myself into the image of God through the mastery of self-discipline. Like I have said elsewhere, I did become more loving, kind, and joyful but nothing compared to now by allowing the Holy Spirit to have full access into our heart and mind.

Humanism works through habitual discipline to change exterior behavior. God works through His Spirit to change the interior emotional heart that leads to changed behavior.

When you read the above passage in Galatians, you note that the fruit is not from one’s human heart but from the Spirit. When we deny ourselves and submit to the Spirit’s influence in our life, the essence of God becomes more alive in us. God’s Spirit intermingles with our spirit influencing our soul. The Source is God. The recipient is us and those who we come into contact.

Humanism works from the outside-in. God works from the inside-out.

Humanism is like the imitation wedding ring made from glass. It may look like a diamond, but is made with inferior material. A real diamond can cut through glass; a fake diamond cannot.

Humanism likes to look good from the outside. It acts like the real McCoy, but lacks the internal fortitude. In many cases, it is all form without any substance.

God’s Spirit is the real deal. As we submit to His Will and lean on Him, He resides in us and allows His presence to be made known through us. After you experience the real thing, you will more quickly notice the illusions and fakes around you. If you are tired of working hard to experience God’s presence in your life, maybe you are trying too hard. Maybe its time to rest in Christ and ask Him to position you to experience the real deal.

You only need to ask Him.

Rooting For You in Christ!