Longing to Be Overwhelmed by God
“The Holy Spirit’s ministry is to take truths about Jesus and make them clear to our minds and real to our hearts – so real that they console and empower and change us at our very centre. To be “filled with the Spirit,” then is to live a life of joy, sometimes quiet, sometimes towering. Truths about God’s glory and Jesus’s saving work are not just believed with the mind but create inner music (Ephesians 5:19) and an inner relish in the soul. “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (verses 19-20). And because the object of this song is not favourable life circumstances (which can change) but rather the truth and grace of Jesus (which cannot), this heart song does not weaken in times of difficulty.” - Tim Keller
I’m reading Tim Keller’s book The Meaning of Marriage with a few friends and came across the above this morning. It’s part of chapter 2, The Power for Marriage, which starts off teaching about the importance of each Christian being filled with the Spirit because “If we look to our spouses to fill up our tanks in a way that only God can do, we are demanding an impossibility.” He says spouses here but we can fill in that word with anything besides God. Work, accomplishments, clothes, social media – literally everything will disappoint if God isn’t first in our lives. We’ve probably heard this before and believe (even experienced!) it to be true. But it’s a daily walk isn’t it, checking our hearts to make sure that we really are putting God first?
Shall we all check our hearts today. ❤️ I don’t think we ever get so ‘mature’ that we don’t need to do this! And may we meditate on the fact that that God loves to fill us to overflowing with his love. That we can live with eager expectation daily, knowing he has things ready – to speak, to teach, to love, to pursue us. Anything our heart desires, God is the one that knows what will truly satisfy. Without him, everything will feel temporary; maybe we’ll even be in constant fear that the thing that’s giving us life will go away. May we rely on God’s Spirit in us, and stay close to him always. And I pray that he will show us how to take this love and love others more and more in the season ahead.
Drop a ❤️❤️❤️ if you’re longing to be filled with the Holy Spirit this season and committing to pursue God with all your heart. Each day brings new opportunities to worship the Lord of all creation. Let’s do our best not to miss what God is doing. ❤️
Ps. Looking for a song on this? Starfield’s Overwhelm came to mind this morning. An upbeat oldie – that’s such a beautiful prayer! “This is an invitation to overwhelm my heart. I’m asking you to meet me. I’m waiting here to start. My soul is like a desert. Thirsty for your rain. So open up the heavens. And fill me up again. I’m ready for my life to be consumed. Father, here I am. Overwhelm!”
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