Praying For Spiritual Growth

Praying for Spiritual Growth

[Jesus said,] “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 7:38

JESUS WAS BLUNT ABOUT OUR ABILITIES: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Even if we’re offended by such a thought, we know it’s true. We can accomplish a lot of things in our own strength, but none of them are lasting. They have no eternal consequence. We can’t even grow spiritually without enormous grace and constant help. In terms of ultimate meaning, we really can do nothing.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, however, we can do virtually everything. Jesus said so himself, promising that his followers would do the works he did “and even greater works” in his footsteps (John 14:12). In our re-created, resurrected lives, we can walk in the power of the Spirit, receive the gifts of the Spirit, and bear the fruit of the Spirit. We are given “great and precious promises,” everything we need for life and godliness, full access to the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4), even the life of Jesus himself within us (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27). Our old lives were natural and fallen, but our new lives are supernatural and risen.

Jesus was clear about the Father’s intention to give us the Holy Spirit. He told us to ask and keep on asking for his Spirit (Luke 11:9-13), suggesting much more than an initial experience at the moment of salvation. We are told to be filled with the Spirit continually as an alternative to counterfeit influences (Ephesians 5:18). Jesus assured us that all who believe will have rivers of living water flowing up from their innermost being (John 7:38). When we are praying for Holy Spirit power and dynamic, lasting spiritual growth, we are clearly asking in accordance with God’s will.

Refuse to relegate the Holy Spirit to a past experience or just a subtle influence between the lines of your life. Pray daily to be filled with the Spirit’s wisdom, power, and love. Learn to see your whole life in terms of being Spirit-empowered versus self-empowered, and always choose the former over the latter. God will back your prayers with a resounding “yes” and fill you with rushing waters of life.

The Holy Spirit may be had for the asking.