In the Gospel of Luke, we are introduced to Elizabeth and Zechariah. Faithful and wise, these two were also older and childless. Yet, God blessed them with a baby boy. A boy who would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born! The Bible tells us that at the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s little Holy Spirit-filled bundle of joy leaped in her womb, and she, too, was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine?
That baby was so full of the Holy Spirit that it overflowed from him.
This is a portrait of the type of life that God wants from us. He wants to pour His Spirit into our every conversation, interaction, thought, and word. And we should want that too. Not just in public but especially in private. The public persona, as well as the choices that no one else knows about, should be Holy Spirit-led.
Elizabeth was willing – she was even grateful- for the opportunity to carry a child who was filled with the Spirit. Are we willing – are we grateful – to be filled? Or do we want to do life on our terms, in our own time and control, fulfilling our own purpose?
We should long for more of Christ because he longs for more of us.
If we want the Holy Spirit to overflow from our lives, we have to be willing to put aside those things that grieve the Spirit or go against the will of God. What we think, say, do, and the motivations of our hearts either hinder the work of the Spirit or invite the Spirit to work in and through our lives.
How we treat and speak to our children, spouse, coworkers, or employees should overflow with love by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When my children were young, my mother would commend my patience. Yet, patience is something I have had to work on lately. Instead of leading my home by example, I have been allowing the temperature of my hormone-addled teens to dictate my responses. I’m working on that. But I don’t have to do that alone. If I allow Him, the Holy Spirit will lead, help, and fill me.
He’s faithful like that. And if we seek him out, He will weed out anything that hinders the Holy Spirit from overflowing from our lives. All we have to do is ask.
Are we instruments of the Holy Spirit? Are we walking so full of the Spirit that our presence invites His outpouring into the lives of others? I want my life to be so full of Christ that the lives of those around me experience God’s love, peace, and power through our every interaction.
I want to be Holy Spirit infused until I overflow! Share on XCan you imagine?
