IgniteSample

Destroy, Part 2

I can remember working full-time in corporate America with three little ones at home and lamenting about the lack of time I had to keep my house in order. So when I left my career to become a stay-at-home mom, I couldn’t wait to give my bathrooms a good deep clean. It’s odd, but true. When I was finished, I stood back for a moment, admiring the shiny porcelain and glimmering stainless steel. 

But much to my dismay, within a few days (or was it hours?), it looked like I’d never lifted a finger to clean a thing! Sadly, I had to get out the Pine Sol, Clorox and Comet all over again and get to work.

This predicament reminded of something I’d known all along: the upkeep of this house takes continual work. 

The same is true for your spiritual house. 

But who does all the work? 

Often, we work hard to change ourselves. In an effort to jumpstart our spiritual lives, we “try harder to do better,” but never see the lasting results we’d hoped for.

God’s Word shows us a different way. He invites us to let His Spirit be the One to do the work. 

The strength and power you need to transform into who you were created to be and turn your potential into a tangible reality isn’t in your effort. It’s in your willingness to let God’s Spirit do the work for you.

The Spirit’s power is the X factor that brings life transformation. When we yield to the Spirit and depend on Him above all else, the natural byproduct is the character of Christ displayed through us, or what the Bible calls the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22).

If you want a passion for God that stands the test of time, don’t focus on the fruit. Instead, focus on reaching deeper and deeper levels of dependency on His Spirit. Then, the fruit will follow.

God’s desire is that each second, day, and hour you walk lockstep with Him, through His Spirit, allowing Him to do the heavy lifting of keeping your spiritual house and heart in order. 

What positive changes can you envision for your life as you heighten your dependence on the Holy Spirit? Write them down and keep them handy as a reminder of the power of God’s Spirit within you.