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

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

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the final piece of advice Apostle Paul gives to help us be ready to live fully, aware that 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 anything else, lead to addiction, excess, and reckless living. They provide temporary relief or pleasure, but in the end, they cause more harm than good.

The reason we’re attracted to these artificial stimulants is because we lack the Holy Spirit within us. We’re not satisfying our core inner needs, so we turn to things outside of God and His Holy Spirit to fulfill them.

We need to be filled with the Spirit. We need God. We need Him to saturate our beings with His love and peace, but most importantly, with Himself. When that doesn’t happen, a spiritual and emotional vacuum forms, making us vulnerable.

To experience genuine satisfaction and fulfillment, we need to be filled with the Spirit.

It is when we are filled with the Holy Spirit that we will partake in the fruit He provides. The Apostle Paul shares this fruit with us, 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 nearer than we think. How can we live wisely this year?

It begins with being born again and being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. When we stay alert to the opportunities God provides and make the most of them, we can better understand His will. Finally, understanding God’s will for our lives is only possible when we’re filled with the Holy Spirit.

The hour is nearer than any of us realizes. Are we prepared?