Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him. Colossians 2:6 ESV
There’s no big secret to being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is submission. Submission may sound passive, but it is truly powerful and life changing.
Submission requires FAITH. Our entire Christian life from beginning to end is a life of faith. Romans 1:17 NLT says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’”
Faith is not mystical, simply believing in something. This life of faith requires giving up your own purposes, your will, and your determination to live life on your own terms. Faith is submitting yourself to Him. Yes, faith is giving up your control. But faith is also actively holding on to God’s promises and will for your life. And it is God’s will that you be filled with His Spirit. Since it is, you can ask with confidence that He will fill you when you ask Him to do so.
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15 NLT
You can ask with complete confidence for the Holy Spirit to fill you. As you ask in faith, you may not have a great emotional experience. You may not feel any different at all. But faith is not a feeling. You simply believe that He has answered and is filling you.
The other essential of submission is SURRENDER. What does surrender mean? Well, it is a continual open-handed posture with God. It is opening your hands and refusing to hold on to anything that keeps you from embracing the life He has for you. Surrender is also willing to allow God to put into your hands anything He has for you. Surrender is continually being ready to say “yes” as He leads, directs, and redirects. Living in the Spirit is a heart that says to God, “Whatever you want, wherever you want to lead, whomever you want me to talk to, whatever you want me to give up, and whatever you want me to do, I am deciding right now. My answer will always be yes.”
God does not want you to feel exhausted trying to live the Christian life on your own. He wants you to give up control. Faith and surrender equal the submission that opens the door for you to be filled with the Spirit.
- Be filled with the Spirit! He is waiting every day to fill you and walk with you. Ask Him to fill you today, and tomorrow, and every day after. True life awaits!