Fall is finally arriving! It’s crazy to think that we are going back to some type of normality after such a long period of change. Personally, I’ve been experiencing the fun, business, and stress this semester has to offer. From the amusing football games, to the late nights with friends, to the hours spent staring at a screen trying to solve your homework, to the moments where you’re just so exhausted and can’t handle anything else your circumstances are challenging you with, we experience tons of distractions from something that is extremely important to keep intact this semester, which is our relationship with Christ. Sustaining a relationship with Christ in any season of life that is faced with business and chaos is very difficult. The world offers so many disruptions and lies that can tear our attention away from the one who loves us and truly knows what’s best for us. So before we get too deep into Fall 2021, I have two big tips for you to keep in mind as we dive deep into this season of our lives.
1) I encourage you to stay spiritually filled. What does that even mean, being spiritually filled? Well, let’s look at some verses that speak about being spiritually filled. Acts 11:24 “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
Galatians 5:16
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
So, from what the Lord has shown me through these verses and multiple others is that to be spiritually filled means to allow the Holy Spirit to occupy every part of your life by letting it guide you as you follow Christ’s will for your life. By allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you, you will reap the fruits of the spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness, which in my opinion is pretty awesome. Not only will you reap the fruits of the spirit, but you will also find strength given by God to avoid sinful and earthly desires. By living a spirit filled life, you will find joy and freedom that can only be received by our gracious and loving God.
So how do we go about filling ourselves with the spirit? We can be spiritually filled by studying the Bible daily, being in constant prayer, being in community that lifts us up in the spirit, and seeking spiritual wisdom from those who have wisdom given by God and not by the world. It can be really difficult to instill these habits into our busy schedules, but I can 100% guarantee you that by making these practices priorities in our lives, that you will grow in your relationship with Christ and find joy and peace in your daily life.
2) I encourage you to stay strong in the Lord and to trust his plans.
Like I was saying in the beginning paragraphs, it is so easy to get wrapped in the troubles of life and forget that the creator of the Universe has a plan and purpose in our lives through the ups and downs we face. In Jeremiah 29:11 it states, “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” I believe this verse offers so much comfort. Although our world is beginning to return to some type of normalcy, the fact is there is still so much uncertainty in every moment in our lives can make us feel overwhelmed and fearful. But in those scary moments we must take heart and remember that we have a friendship and a Lordship with a God who deeply cares for each and every one of us and has plan that is not only perfectly crafted, but crafted in order for us to prosper.
To conclude, why am I saying all of this? I say all of this to offer you God’s gift of peace. In any struggle throughout this semester, I encourage you to bring your worries in prayer to our father in Heaven, the prince of peace, the great comforter. Remember God has a plan for you and they aren’t just mediocre plans, they are good and blessed plans, plans structured for you to prosper and for the Kingdom of God to grow.
Don’t put aside growing your relationship with God this semester, I challenge you to make it a priority and to sustain it this semester and always. By striving to be spirit-filled and to trust God with His plans He has in store for you, you will find peace only He can give you, and this peace He gives you is so much better than what the world has offers.
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
