Holy Spirit You Are Welcome Here

Recently the Lord has be teaching my about the Holy Spirit. This whole trip in fact seems like a crash course in the Spirit, because all too soon it becomes evident that I will never be able to succeed on my own power. The reality of our ministry on campus has made that clear and it is thoroughly backed up by scripture. This passage from 1 Corinthians is a fitting reminder as we share on campus we may lay the foundation or plant the seeds so to speak, but the real work is done by the Spirit in the heart of the individual.

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." ~ 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Furthermore we can never fully comprehend how the Spirit moves. There is mystery and power in that because it can work in ways that we could never hope to understand or expect. As we share the Gospel there can be immense contentment in knowing it is not on us. As it says in John:

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit" ~ John 3

Continuing with this whole theme is a stanza from one of my favorite contemporary worship songs aptly titled "Holy Spirit."

"Holy Spirit you are welcome here,
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.
Your glory God is what our hearts long for,
To be overcome by Your Presence, Lord."

"Let us become more aware of Your presence.
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness."

 I want this to be my prayer every time I wake up and every time I go to bed. I want this to be our prayer as we head to campus everyday. I hope we can truly experience His presence and goodness because we are so saturated by the Spirit. Then and only then can we live changed lives which overflow with love and grace for others. I'm continuing to learn that I cannot do it on my own and that's okay. All the glory be His.