I WILL STAND STRONG 30 DAY CHALLENGESample

Living Beyond Yourself 

Athletes drink Gatorade to refuel and rehydrate. Weight lifters hit the gym. Political candidates need a campaign manager to help them win. But what do Christians need to help them stand strong in their faith?

Without a doubt, Christians desperately need the Holy Spirit. 

But it’s important to point out that the Holy Spirit is not a gimmick, a product, or an experiment. The Holy Spirit (the third person of the trinity) is God. 

Paul explains the need for every Christian to “walk by the Spirit” so that you will not “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). Elsewhere, Paul says, “Let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). When you are sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and open to Him moving, guiding, and instructing you—that means you are living in the “sphere of influence” of the Holy Spirit. Every aspect of your life is being transformed and impacted by His power! And the more you walk according to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, the less sin will have dominion over you. 

A great example of a person mightily used by the Holy Spirit is none other than D. L. Moody (1837–1899). He is arguably the greatest evangelist of the nineteenth century. When he was preaching the gospel in England, one of the pastors protested his revivals by questioning, “Why do we need this Mr. Moody? He’s uneducated. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” Upon hearing this rude comment, another pastor stood in Mr. Moody’s defense and replied, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on D. L. Moody.”

The choice is up to you. Do you want to be guided by the Spirit? Or do you want to rely on your own strength?

If you are going to live beyond yourself, then it is vital that you understand the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. He is the one who indwells you, convicts you, empowers you, and guides you. 

So, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you the wisdom and strength needed to stand strong this day!