Sheer effort, sacrifice, and promises avail little in the great big scheme of things. I was once known as the hardest worker in a certain field but that designation gave me no satisfaction. I remember once seeking to be all-state in football and once I achieved that accolade, I was empty inside. Only Jesus satisfies my innermost needs and only He can leave me full. My greatest memories of my football stint are the moments of the love bond between my father and me. How much greater is our Heavenly Father’s love bond proven by His Son!
At work recently, I helped my friend build a ramp—his ingenious idea—to protect the delicate block steps onto a recreational beach which needed reshaping. The ramp protected the structure. If the bobcat had forcefully descended onto the beach without a care, a lot of damage would have occurred and created a situation wherein additional patch work would have ensued.
The Holy Spirit is a protective ramp. He has the right approach to reshape our lives. No matter how good intentioned one may be, we do not have the permission to barge into anyone’s life to help reshape—this is only God’s precious territory. The Lord of creation in Whom all things consist, is the only One adept at inner surgery. His demolition before the remodeling is the only demolition that a soul can endure because He provides the strength to undergo the needed improvements.
Lord, help us to be willing vessels not blockading the refinements the Holy Spirit intends. Lord, helps us to surrender others to your loving care no matter how much our heart aches. Lord, increase our faith to walk in this life trusting your ultimate goodness no matter what befalls. Lord, help us to not get in the way of your Spirit’s work in the life of another or ignore what He is doing in our life. Lord, grant us the desire to truly walk in the Spirit. Lord, forgive us for walking in the flesh and not in your Spirit.
Please allow God’s Word to do its work:
“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 NASB
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NASB
1 Corinthians 2:12
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” I Corinthians 2:12 NASB
Romans 8:26-28
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:26-28 NASB
“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 NASB
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