DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY August 31, 2022

The Power of the Holy Spirit 

No matter how hard we try to follow God in our own strength, we’ll succeed only when we surrender and depend fully on Him. 

Now He said to them, ``These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, ``Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ``You are witnesses of these things. ``And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:44-49 

Today is my birthday! God has so blessed me with His Spirit, I celebrate on this day that He allowed me to experience physical life all those years ago. I am extremely grateful for both physical and spiritual life. 

Do you remember the book The Little Engine That Could? A small engine keeps repeating the words “I think I can. I think I can.” By using sheer willpower, she pulls an entire train over the mountain. That’s a nice children’s story, but the truth of the Christian life is very different. In the real world, our efforts and determination often fall short. Only by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit can we live a godly life. 

In the Old Testament, God’s Spirit would temporarily come upon saints for a particular work. However, after Jesus ascended to heaven, He sent the Spirit to dwell within each believer (Luke 24:49). Consider what this means: If you’re a Christian, God is living inside you, available to help throughout life by providing guidance, comfort, and empowerment. 

Obedience to Christ is impossible for anyone relying on his or her own strength. For some reason, though, Christians often try to live life by depending on themselves. Defeat and failure are unavoidable without divine power in our life. 

Do you recognize your need for God? Begin each day confessing your dependence on Him. Ask to be filled with His Spirit so that all you think, do, and say will be an overflow from Him. Then trust Him to work in mighty ways through you.

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