I have been reading a lot of material from Martin Luther recently, especially what he wrote defining what prayer means to him.
“Prayer is the oxygen of spiritual life… without it, we die.” – Martin Luther
Jesus, the One who is the starting point for any powerful prayer I have read, promises something special to me.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it. – John 15:7 GNT
If I will spend time with Him and in His Word, I can ask for anything and I can have it. This is God’s great plan. How can I do this, how can I learn to live in God’s Word, pray it and then watch Him move?
Actually, I believe that it is not an external exhibition but rather an internal one. It is called being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit. – Ephesians 5:18 GNT
When I ask God to fill me with His Spirit, what am I actually asking for?
“An event subsequent to conversion in which a believer experiences a fresh infilling with the Holy Spirit that may result in a variety of consequences, including greater love for God, greater victory over sin, greater power for ministry, and sometimes the receiving of new spiritual gifts” – Wayne Grudem
I can see how the New Testament usually talks about this and loved Paul exhortation to me to have the Spirit of God filling my being so that I can walk with Him.
Father, I love hearing You express Yourself to me each and every time I chose to be in a quiet place, a place set aside to engage with You. I love each greeting You give me each time we meet. I thank You that your Spirit has never left me for if He did, I would not make it through my life. You have opened Your Word to me and I thank You and in them I have found life. I have asked for much and You in Your wisdom and love for me have given me much of what I have asked. Your most profound gifts to me were things I never did ask for but You knew I needed. Each time Your Spirit engages me I know I come to a place where I love You more, I am challenged to trust You and then to follow You. I am confident when I enter into ministry and I love the opportunity of ministering to others using the gifts You have given me. I love walking with You, thank You for walking with me. Amen
Erwin (evanlaar1922)
Sixty-six books in a year 