I wish I had more of the Holy Spirit of God.

[brody196]

I suppose life would be more fruitful if I did, and I am already assuming that it is with me where the problem lies. I just feel so insignificant some times. I must confess, this is not a pity party in way shape or form, just sorta a rant.

The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians to "Be ye filled with the Spirit", but he did not seem to give a way to do so. Jesus said we should "ask the Father", and I have, but I do not seem to get the victory in all areas of my life. But that is not God's fault, it is solely mine.

Can any here relate?

[Paidion]

How do you know it's your fault?

Perhaps God is giving you a dry period in your life to test you --- to see how you'll cope.

Also, are you sure that it is possible to obtain "more of the Holy Spirit"? For we read:

...it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit. John 3:34

[brody196]

How do you know it's your fault?

Hey Brother,

I figure that it has to be my fault, because God certainly isn't making fail in so many areas. It is God's word which says "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,-Jude 1:24

Perhaps God is giving you a dry period in your life to test you --- to see how you'll cope.

I ain't coping so well.

Also, are you sure that it is possible to obtain "more of the Holy Spirit"? For we read:

...it is not by measure that he gives the Spirit. John 3:34

You have a point.

But scripture also speaks of those who are "full of the Holy Ghost", and Paul seems to hint that we have to continually be "filled with the Spirit", so I am not sure how to put all this together.

[Michelle]

I can sure relate to what you're going through. Sometimes I get really tired of being aware the I'm not doing it right. If this is all about a relationship, why does my failure seem to be such a major theme?

[Allyn]

We all go through dry spells and don't we all come out of them if given enough time. God surely does test, so watch what you ask for but the testing is to bring you closer to Him and able to cope better when the next dry spell comes. They come in many forms and what is hard for one person may be the life of Riley for another. There is no good way to help a person understand how it all works - you must experience them and pursue victory in Christ. Point is, God does not give you more than you can bear so take those times when they come and acknowledge them before Christ by handing them right back to Him.
Simple? Yeah right.

[TK]

Coincidentally, this morning in my reading I came across this excerpt from "The Screwtape Letters" by CS Lewis:

You must have often wondered why the Enemy[God] does not make more use of His power to be sensibly present to human souls in any degree He chooses and at any moment.... the creatures are to be one with Him, but yet themselves; merely to cancel them, or assimilate them, will not serve. He is prepared to do a little overriding at the beginning. He will set them off with communications of His presence which, though faint, seem great to them, with emotional sweetness, and easy conquest over temptation. But He never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature to stand up on its own legs-- to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please him best... He cannot 'tempt' to virtue as we[the demons] do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must there fore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Do not be deceived, Wormwood, Our cause is never more in danger then when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.

TK

[brody196]

If only I had the faith of Job.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15

[Allyn]

If only I had the faith of Job.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15

To ask for the faith of job would mean to go through the type of test job experienced. No thanks. I would rather be tested in small easy areas. The kind that go away in a week or so.

[Michelle]

If only I had the faith of Job.

Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15

To ask for the faith of job would mean to go through the type of test job experienced. No thanks. I would rather be tested in small easy areas. The kind that go away in a week or so.

Yeah, me too. Those kind seem rare, however.

[darinhouston]

Do you suppose his faith came from the testing, or was shown from the testing? His initial response indicated he had a pretty strong faith already. Surely his faith grew from the experience, but it started out pretty sound. I wish I had even the faith he started with let alone the faith he ended up having.