Have you ever felt a little disillusioned with life? You know that feeling when you aren’t as passionate as you once were? The fire in your belly may have been reduced to a smoldering ember? Or worse, perhaps your fire feels extinguished all together?
These emotions are all too familiar to many of us – if not all of us. I have no doubt that may be the case with you, because life this side of heaven will never be perfect. We will all battle to maintain our passion, our enthusiasm, our vision, our engagement and our hope.
Our mission is not unopposed.
I must confess, I have recently felt like the fire in my belly has been reduced. My vision isn’t as clear and strong as I would like it to be, and my zeal is lessened as well.
It was in this state I had the opportunity to speak with the leader of a global mission organization. This organization is doing phenomenal work to grow the Kingdom of God around the world. Their work is changing the lives of thousands of people in over 40 countries. They are leading people to Christ all over the globe.
Whenever I have the opportunity to work with this leader, he seems to always be on mission and full of vision and passion. So, I asked him, “How long have you been on this mission?” “Thirty-four years.”, was his reply.
“How do you stay so engaged, so envisioned, so passionate for your work?”, I inquired.
He shared how he certainly, like anyone, has to fight to stay engaged. But then he said something that so riveted my attention. I had to pause the conversation to write it down…
“My one job is to maintain a vital, unbroken communication with the Holy Spirit every day.”
He emphasized the phrase “my one job”. To maintain a vital, unbroken communication with the Holy Spirit is his objective and his commitment every day.
He went on to explain that as long as he is truly communing with the Holy Spirit – listening, interacting, sensing, following, obeying, partnering, discerning, being ministered to – he is encouraged, envisioned, engaged and enthused. In light of that he makes it his commitment to begin every day by focussing on the Holy Spirit.
When he wakes up in the morning the first thing he does is get down on his knees beside his bed to offer his heart afresh to the Lord. He gives his day to the Lord and asks the Holy Spirit to fill him up. As best he knows he surrenders himself fully to the work and will of the Lord, and confesses his utter dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit.
He then gets up and spends the first hour of his day with the Lord. He feeds himself with Truth by studying and meditating on the Word of God. He prays, he listens, he worships – he gets filled up with the Spirit of God. Then, he spends the rest of his day, to the best of his ability, maintaining this vital communication with the Holy Spirit.
This means he listens and obeys. It means he avoids sin and does all he can not to grieve the Spirit. This also means he ensures he focuses on the Truth and takes captive any thoughts that are in opposition to the Truth. And, this means he hangs around with others who are on mission with him.
What a great example for us to follow.
We are all on mission to partner with our Lord in the work He has given us. We are all on mission to be ambassadors of the Government of God on earth. Jesus called all of us to give Him our whole life – not part of it. We are all full-time ministers.
We cannot do this without the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We must do life in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like my friend, we have one job: to maintain a vital, unbroken communication with the Holy Spirit every day, so that we can effectively partner with Jesus in the will of our Father in the lives of those around us.
John 14:26
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Luke 11:13
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
2 Timothy 1:14
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”