Daily devotion – refilled
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Sunday afternoons, after the morning service, is an important time for me. Studying through the week, praying and seeking God and then bringing to Christ’s Church His word is a great privilege. But anyone who serves the Lord, whether it be caring for the physical needs of the Church building, teaching Sunday school, cleaning the chapel, or ministering in any capacity takes a physical toll. But the most important thing is as we serve the Lord, the Holy Spirit, Lord willing is using whatever gifting of service we have fully as well. So, internally we need a refill!
So, Sunday afternoon, I need a refill, a refreshing of the presence and grace of our Lord. Like a car on a long trip, our tank runs dry in our serving and now importantly the tank needs to be replenished. Sunday afternoon, if not teaching as well at night, is the time to open my Bible again, to read slowly and carefully God’s Word and seek Him to strengthen and restore that which has been released.
For some, it might be Monday instead of Sunday depending on our situation, but for all no matter the day, we need to be refilled.
The Apostle Paul tells us we need the refilling in order as that our lives be under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit. How does the Holy Spirit do this? By speaking to us through His Word and then our spirit is ignited again with the very power that is released by God into our being to once more serve and live for God’s glory.
You can tell when the tank is filled again, we will want to share what we read in God’s Word with someone. We will want to sing again in praise to God as we once more realize His abounding love and grace to us. Finally, Paul says there will rise up in our spirit a passionate desire to give thanks…for all the things God has done and is doing for us.
We are ready again….what a joy!