Filled with the Spirit—A Life of Overflowing Grace

"Being filled with the Spirit is not about striving—it is about yielding, like a sail that catches the wind."

Devotional Summary

The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer from the moment of salvation (1 Corinthians 3:16), but the ongoing filling of the Spirit is something distinct. The early church provides a clear example: the disciples were first filled at Pentecost, yet Peter and the others experienced fresh fillings on different occasions (Acts 2:3-4; 4:8, 31). These moments of filling empowered them to boldly proclaim Christ and walk in God’s purposes.

Ephesians 5:18 commands believers to "be filled with the Spirit," an instruction given in the present tense, emphasizing continual, moment-by-moment dependence. It is not a one-time event but a way of life. Being filled with the Spirit is not automatic; it requires a heart that yields to Him. Just as being drunk on wine influences a person’s actions, being filled with the Spirit means being under His influence, living in His power rather than our own.

God's desire is that we do not merely visit this fullness, but that we abide in it. His presence within is unchanging, but His manifest power in our lives depends on our yieldedness. The question is not whether we possess the Spirit but whether the Spirit possesses us—whether He is the one leading, speaking, and acting through us.

Personal Journal Reflection

Lord, You dwell in me as my very life. There is no moment where I am apart from You, no second where Your Spirit is not my source. But You remind me that while I am always indwelt by You, I can live either in the sufficiency of Your Spirit or the limitations of my flesh. Today, I choose the fullness of Your life.

To be filled with You is not about striving for more of what I already have—it is about yielding to what is already present. It is not an experience to chase but a reality to walk in. Just as a sailboat moves as it yields to the wind, I move as I yield to You. The wind is always there, but will I raise the sail?

I surrender the temptation to rely on my own wisdom today. You are my wisdom. I yield my words, my responses, my actions to You—not because I am trying harder, but because You are more than sufficient in me. You know the conversations I will have, the interruptions that will come, the challenges that will arise. And You are already enough for them all.

Thank You that being filled with You is not complicated. It is not reserved for the spiritually elite. It is simply resting in the reality that You live in me and through me. You are the one who loves, who speaks, who acts. My life is not my own. It is Yours, and in that, there is complete freedom.

Prayer of Trust

Father, I rejoice that You have already given me everything I need in Christ. Your Spirit is not far off, nor do I need to strive for Your fullness. You are here, within me, and I yield to Your life today. May Your love overflow in my words, Your grace in my actions, and Your power in my weakness. I trust that as I walk, it will be You walking in me. Thank You for the privilege of living by Your Spirit’s fullness, moment by moment. Amen.

Photo Suggestion for Unsplash:
An image of a sailboat with fully raised sails, catching the wind on open water.

Credits:
Devotional insights from Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra. Photo credit: Unsplash.