By Alison Feinauer
I teach workout classes at a local gym and often have new students come in and say, “I want my arms to look like that” as they point to someone in the gym. They will ask me what they need to do to achieve this goal.
First, I tell them, the great thing is they already have the muscle inside them. They were born with it. I coach them through working it (lifting heavy weights), feeding it (good protein; often), resting it (taking days off), then repeat, in order for it to grow and strengthen to the point where it’s visible. They will eventually see results but they must remain consistent. If they allow time and space for their muscles to grow, they will see the results they want.
I was doing a study about the Holy Spirit, and I had a moment where I thought about this muscle analogy. I felt like the Lord brought it to mind. When I received Jesus in my life and I committed to make Him Lord, He gave me the gift of the Holy Spirit to be my counselor, comforter, and source of Power. Just like I had the muscle in me at birth, I had the Holy Spirit at my Rebirth. I was reborn with the Holy Spirit. Now I need to spend time working and allowing the Holy Spirit to grow in my life and fill me up! The Holy Spirit wants to connect with us all throughout the day. As we build the muscles to listen and quiet ourselves before Him, He will prompt us, give us wisdom, tell us secrets, quiet and comfort us, guide us, and empower us to overcome anything that comes against us.
The power that awaits us through the Holy Spirit is a gift! But we have to open the box, spend time in the gym, make it a priority, and slow our hurried lives down to really make room and give permission for Him to move in our lives. We are one with Him. We become less as He becomes more.
I don’t want to be weak. I want the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to breathe life into me each day so that it pours out onto other people. Do you want that same power? Do you want more of the Holy Spirit? Put time on your calendar for it. Mark it down now. Make it a priority, and it will become the most important part of your day. I encourage you, my friend. You won’t regret it.
Let’s get to the gym and make room for the Holy Spirit to Grow in our lives! Pray this simple prayer with me.
Jesus, thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit. I want to receive, accept, and use all that you have for me. In your word, it says that you have been praying for me (John 17:20-23), you in me and me in you. This is the highest possible honor, a gift I do not want to neglect. Lead me, and I will follow. In the name and character of Jesus, teach me what all of this means and how to abide in you. Amen.
The One whom God has sent to represent Him will speak the words of God, because God has poured out upon him the fullness of the Holy Spirit without limitation. The Father loves his Son so much that he has given all things into his hands (John 3:34-35 TPT).
Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you (Romans 8:11 TPT)!
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:16-20 NIV
