Come Holy Spirit

Recently, while away on retreat, I became increasingly aware of the need for a renewal of the Holy Spirit in my life. I don't know about you, but sometimes I get bogged down with everything that has to be done and the craziness of my life. Things get so busy and my schedule so crowded that at times I forget that Christ dwells within me and that His Spirit lives within my soul. It takes getting away from it all to once again realize that I am a child of the King and that He is truly present in every aspect of my life. Why am I not aware of that miracle every moment?

A lot of the scripture readings lately have been leading the way to Pentecost. The particular passage that caught my attention was from Acts 2:1-4.

"When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong, driving wind, and it filled the house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim."

How powerful! Have I forgotten that this same power is available to me right now? Do I really believe that the Holy Spirit can and does come down on me in a very real way to enable me to live out God's desire for my life? I know for a fact that I can do nothing on my own. It is only through and by His Spirit that I can speak a word of encouragement, can touch the heart of someone who is hurting, can heal the sick, sing and praise God, can walk, talk, breathe, etc. etc. Jesus said in John 14:12 "...Whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these..."

I know that I need this Presence in my life. Perhaps you have that same longing. Sometimes we all feel weak, afraid, lonely, sick, lost, distracted, angry. We are busy, distracted, preoccupied, searching for some kind of relief from the stress of the things of this world. We are human, flesh and blood, and our bodies suffer from the demands placed on us. But we also have the Divine within us. At our baptism we received the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God! Our Creator gave us this marvelous gift to help us in our every need.

A friend found something that I had written a long time ago and just gave it to me. The words prompted today's meditation. I want to share it with you.

In Every Need

Holy Spirit, my Light, my Life, my Love, my Strength, be with me now and always.

In all my doubts, anxieties and trials,
*Come Holy Spirit!

In hours of loneliness, weariness, and grief,
*Come Holy Spirit!

In loss, and in disappointment,
*Come Holy Spirit!

When others fail me, when I fail myself,
*Come Holy Spirit!

When I am ill, unable to work, depressed,
*Come Holy Spirit!

Now and forever, and in all things,
*Come Holy Spirit!

Let us be open to allow the Holy Spirit to come to us, to fall afresh on us. Let us expect the fire of His Spirit to make our hearts ablaze with His love, as it did on the apostles on that first Pentecost. Let it burn away self-doubt, fear, and the desire for things that the world gives. May our hearts be set on fire for those things that are unseen and that last forever. May it empower us to do His will with hearts filled with courage and conviction.