More of His Spirit
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2

Today’s Treasure: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

You and I need nothing on this earth like more of the Holy Spirit. Do we need to love an unlovely person? Do we need extra patience? Could we use a little peace in the midst of chaos? Do we need to show an extra measure of kindness? Could anyone stand a little more faithfulness to God? Could anyone use a strong does of self-discipline? How about a heaping soulful of joy? Take a look at Galatians 5:22-23. They all come with the fullness of the Holy Spirit! You see, we don’t just need more patience. We need more of the Holy Spirit filling us and anointing us!

Now before anybody starts writing me letters, let me go on to explain. I realize the Holy Spirit is a person. When He comes into a believer’s life at salvation, He moves in personally. We believers have the Spirit, but the infinite Spirit of God continues to pour Himself into our lives. Any given day I may enjoy a greater portion of His Spirit from on high.

Does anyone need deep insight from God’s Word? An added measure of understanding? Anyone need the eyes of her heart enlightened to know the hope of her calling? Does anyone want to fulfill God’s eternal purposes for her life and think with the mind of Christ instead of the misleading mind of mortal flesh? All of these come with “more” of the Holy Spirit! (See 1 Corinthians 2.)

Child of God, don’t just absorb this truth! Get up and celebrate it! God gives His Spirit without measure! He has all that you need. Or more properly stated, He is that all you need. Our fulfillment and greatest joy are in the flooding of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives. He is how we understand God’s Word and will for our lives!

Here’s a good one: Could anyone use a sharper memory? Beloved, I could! Take a look at John 14:26. “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send you in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

The Holy Spirit is the blessed Reminder. Have you ever noticed we have a very sharp memory about destructive things, but a far duller memory over instructive things? We need more of the Holy Spirit! Recently I had to memorize lines for a Christmas pageant at our church. I had never done anything like that, and I was a nervous wreck. Because I knew John 14:26, instead of just asking God to help me with my lines, I asked Him to fill me with more of His Holy Spirit so the blessed Reminder would manifest Himself to me—and He did! He is your key to memorizing Scripture or retaining anything biblical. Take Him up on it!

What do you need most from the Holy Spirit? Are you actively praying for more of Him toward that end? Luke 11:13 implies that if we want the Holy Spirit to invade more and more of our lives, God wants us to ask Him for it!

Holy Spirit, I do need more of you in my life. Please invade every part of me with ever-increasing measure. Energize my speech, thought patterns, and actions. Please show me where I’m quenching Your Spirit and hindering Your work. Remind me to pray for more and more of You. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen.

Adapted from The Beloved Disciple, by Beth Moore, pages 163-164. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003. Used by permission.

I don't know if I'm technically supposed to copy and link Beth's stuff, actually, but it was my devotional for today and I couldn't help but include it because the truths she has taught me through her bible studies (and especially Living Beyond Yourself, Breaking Free, and Believing God) are such an integral, daily part of my walk with God, that I would not be able to have the testimony I do today unless I had been actively living it, PTL.

Lord, I praise You. I thank You for this life inside me. I pray that as the medication works to stop his or her growth that the little soul inside would go up to meet You. I'm not sure if I know that all children before the age of accountability go to Heaven or not, but I do know that You are perfect and You are good. Whichever way it is, I praise You. It is always a blessing to be the vessel through which You create a living being! I thank You that the pain was able to alert us to a problem before any major problem arose inside me that would necessitate emergency surgery. I praise You for the doctors and nurses, the insurance that allowed us not to worry about cost, the medication I'm currently on to dull the pain, for my in-laws living so close they could watch our kids for us all day. I thank You that Michael's day miraculously cleared out, that he had a half-day already scheduled today, and that he is such an amazing support. I thank You for this house we could come home to and rest in. I thank You that through the workers today, You have enabled our house to be free of harmful radon gasses. I thank You that even though we have plumbing issues, we have 2 bathrooms and so don't have to worry about not having a place to pee! lol I thank You for the privilege of being mommy to 2 miraculous living children who area great joy to me. I thank You for the many people who have been, are, and continue to pray for me: my sisters in Christ, each special parts of Your Body whom You and I both love to pieces! I thank You that we Genevieve was beginning the weaning process already herself before this event so that bottles could be made yesterday for babysitting and today to keep her from getting the drugs through my milk. Lord, please help my breasts stop swelling! Most of all, Lord, keep my focus on You. Give me praises in my heart and on my tongue. May Your Name be glorified! You have given again and taken again, may Your Name be praised again!!! My Love (that is YOUR love) to my God and Savior, my Rock and Fortress, My Safety and Security. My Joy and Strength. My Hope and Salvation. Maranatha. Until then, more of You, Lord. More of You! Fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit!