Today’s 333 Devotional: “Be Filled with the Holy Spirit”

The hour is closer than any of us think. Are we ready?

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the last piece of advice the Apostle Paul gives in order to make sure we’re ready to get the most out of life knowing our time is limited. He said, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

Artificial stimulants, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, sexual promiscuity, gambling, or something else, lead to addiction, excess, and reckless living. They bring temporary relief or pleasure, but in the end, they do more damage rather than cure what ails us.

The reason we’re tempted towards these artificial stimulants is because we’re not filled with the Spirit. We’re not getting our basic internal needs met, so we seek other things outside of God and His filling us with the Holy Spirit to meet these needs.

We need to be filled with the Spirit. We need God. We need God to saturate our beings with His love and peace; but most importantly with Himself. When that’s not happening there’s a spiritual and emotional vacuum making us vulnerable.

To be fully satisfied and fulfilled we must be filled with the Spirit.

It is when we’re filled with the Holy Spirit that we’ll partake in the fruit He provides. The Apostle Paul shares with us this fruit saying, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

The hour is closer than we may expect. How can we live wisely this year?

It begins by being born again and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  When we’re alert to the opportunities God gives and make the most of them. Finally, understand God’s will for our lives. Only when we’re filled with the Holy Spirit will we understand God’s will a whole lot better.

The hour is closer than any of us think. Are we ready?