The Spirit-Filled Life

How would you describe your current experience as a Christian? Growing. Frustrated. Disappointing. Fulfilled. Forgiven. Stuck. Struggling. Joyful. Defeated. Exciting. Up and down?

Do you desire more? Jesus said, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from His heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.)” (John 7:37b-39, NLT)

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would satisfy the thirst and deepest longings of all who believe in Him. Jesus has so much more to offer you today. But to experience it, you’ll need to take a look at what you’ve been focusing your life on. Would you answer ‘yes’ to these questions?

1. Have you accepted Jesus into your life through faith? (If you can’t recall a time when you gave your life to Jesus, please read this)

2. Are you totally committed to Jesus?

3. Are you depending on the Holy Spirit everyday?

A LIFE NOT CENTERED ON CHRIST

Serving Jesus is not this person’s top priority. He or she grows very little in faith and often lives in frustration without the power of the Holy Spirit.

This person may go to church, but Jesus is not at the center.This person has invited Jesus into their life, but possessions, desires and interests are not centered on Christ.

This person might say:

•“I’m doing OK. No one’s perfect.”
•“I’ll get serious about Jesus one day.”
•“I feel stuck doing the same sins over and over.”
•“The Holy Spirit doesn’t feel real to me.”
•“I don’t have much joy in my Christian life.”

“The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions” (Galatians 5:17, NLT).

A LIFE CENTERED ON CHRIST

This person has placed Jesus at the center of their life—time, decisions, work, relationships, everything. It all belongs to Jesus. This person is growing spiritually and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit by faith.

They would pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, I want You in the center of my life and commit through Your power to serve and obey You. Anytime. Anywhere. At any cost. To do anything.”

Possessions, desires and interests are centered on Christ. This person still makes mistakes, but they’re quick to re-center their life on Christ through confession and trusting in God’s forgiveness.

This person would say:

•“What I want most is to follow Jesus.”
•“I can’t do this on my own, so I run to the Holy Spirit again and again.”
•“When I get sidetracked, I’m quick to make God the center again.”
•“Following Jesus is bringing me more and more joy.”
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (Galatians 5:16, NLT).

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:25, NLT).

HOW TO LIVE DAILY IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

When you center your life on Jesus, you begin to experience amazing joy. Life becomes full of meaning and purpose. God begins to change you from the inside out. The best is yet to come. God desires to make our lives more and more abundant each day, but to experience that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit by faith. Here are three steps, with suggested prayers, to experience the power of the Holy Spirit every day.

1. Express your commitment to Jesus each morning (1 Cor 6:19-20; James 4:7; Romans 12:1).

“Dear Jesus, I want You in the center of my life and commit through Your power to serve and obey You. Anytime. Anywhere. At any cost. To do anything.”

2. Live in the freedom of forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:17; Titus 2:12; Colossians 1:13-14).

“Dear Jesus, I sinned against You when I __________. Thank you for forgiving me through Your sacrifice on the cross. I choose to center my life on You again.”

3. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s power by faith (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:3; 1 Corinthians 2:12).

“I need Your help. I can’t do this alone. Give me strength by Your Spirit to love You with my whole being today and to love others like You do.”

Jesus is offering you abundant, Spirit-filled life every single day. Take hold of that life by faith: keep Him the center, run to Him whenever you fall, start praying for everything you need. Become fully alive in Jesus!

Do you want to talk with a mentor? Please refer to the original article here to connect with a mentor.

Written by: The Life Team
Used with Permission. Originally published on thelife.com.