A Hope and a Future: God's Blueprint for Unbridled Joyنموونە

The Helper from on High

In this journey of transformation towards the future God has for you, there is an ally you require if you are to see any meaningful progress–the Holy Spirit.

We must be careful not to reduce the miracle and privilege of being "filled with the Spirit" to something as mundane as having enough energy or willpower to accomplish the tasks God sets before us. While being filled with the Holy Spirit does help you in that way, that is not the extent. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled with God Himself in such a way that He informs every action and influences every thought. It's letting the vibrancy of His life seep into yours, directing your affections back to Jesus and restoring you to the life you were meant to live.

We have several beautiful pictures of what a life surrendered to the rule of the Holy Spirit looks like in Scripture. One of them is in Ezekiel 47. Ezekiel has a vision of a river flowing up from the temple in Jerusalem to nourish a dead, dry land. Everywhere the river touches, the land springs to life. Even the saltwater it touches becomes fresh and teeming with fish. When you welcome the Holy Spirit, He flows in like a river, bringing every part of you to life. There is no place too dry, too weary, too defeated, too far gone, or too apathetic to be revived and restored.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, thank You for being my Helper, for Your influence and power in my life, and for filling me. Help me fix my eyes on Jesus, the author, and finisher of my faith, and give me everything I need to chase after His heart for my life today and every day. Amen.

Songs from "A Hope and a Future" for Reflection: Where the River Goes, Living Water, Awakening