FRIDAY, MARCH 5
For God is working in you, giving you … the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
THE SPIRIT HELPS ME DO WHAT IS GOOD
There was a little boy once who was reading an advertisement for Simpson’s cocoa powder and asked his mother, “Mom, what does ‘100% pure’ mean?” “It means completely clean, with nothing bad in it.” Later, as she knelt by him as he prayed before going to bed, she heard him say the words, “Dear God, please help me to be like Simpson’s cocoa powder .” “Son!” she whispered, but he kept going. “Make me 100% pure, completely clean with nothing bad in me.”
The heart of that little boy is the heart of God’s Spirit. God works in us to cause us to do what’s good and pleasing to Him. Chuck Swindoll in his teaching on Philippians writes: “Christ says in effect, ‘You want to live My life? Here is My power.’ Lo and behold, He strengthens us within. ‘You want to please My heavenly Father? Here’s My enablement.’ And He enables us by His Spirit… You see, Christ not only lived an exemplary life, He also makes it possible for us to do the same. He gives us His pattern to follow without, while at the same time providing the needed power within… Because we have His example to follow and His power to pull it off, you and I no longer have to fake it or hurry it or strive for it. Once He gets control of our minds, the right attitudes bring about the right actions (Laugh Again).
Reflection
God’s Spirit in you brings out the right actions. None of us will be 100% perfect here on earth, however we can daily grow more and more like Christ. What’s one area of your life you would like to improve with the power of the Holy Spirit?
Praise
Thank God for continuing to work on you. Praise Him for the good He has done and will continue to do through your life.
