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I used to think of the Holy Spirit as an add-on. If you’ve ever been to the burger joint Five Guys, you’re probably familiar with their big selling point: how easy it is to customize your burger. Perhaps you’re just a straight up, plain cheeseburger fan. But why stop there? Five Guys lets you add on bacon, lettuce, A.1. Sauce…whatever you want, they offer. That’s honestly how I viewed the Holy Spirit—an add-on to my spiritual life. Not an essential part of my life but a nice thing to throw on when I felt like it or when I wanted to look or sound holy.
But Romans 8:9 doesn’t tell us that the Spirit merely adds on to our lives. God’s Word says the Spirit dwells in us. In the Old Testament, the word dwell was used to paint a metaphorical, mental picture of God pitching a tent and living among and abiding with His people. The fact that the Spirit dwells in every believer refers to an intimate connection, a permanent residence—not an add-on to your burger for fifty cents; an intimate relationship.
Think about your curling iron, toaster, or really anything that has a long cord and plug. Without taking the two prongs and plugging them into an outlet, you can’t achieve that beautiful curl, and your toast won’t turn a lovely, golden color. Why? Because it’s not connected to a power source. Because that tool is specifically designed to run off electrical power. Nowadays, countless tools are wireless— our phones, your favorite Bluetooth speaker, the handheld vacuum. But even wireless power tools need to be plugged into a power source to maintain a charge and function properly.
The same goes for you and me. The Holy Spirit is like an electrical circuit, and without relying on and acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s power in our lives, we will not be able to live according to our new flesh, as Paul wrote in Romans 8. The Spirit is not only our helper, guide, advocate, and teacher, but He’s also our conduit, or connector, to the heart and truth of our Heavenly Father.
Prayer
Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to help me. Please use the Spirit to help me stay connected to You so that I can better serve You. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
About this Plan
Our world pushes a seductive lie: you can achieve any goal through positive thinking, organization, and determination. But anyone who's tried to white-knuckle their way to self-fulfillment is only left with frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion. Inspired by Tara Sun's book, this plan shows that there’s a better way: surrender to the God who cares for us and has an infinitely better blueprint for a life filled with joy, peace, and meaning.
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