Running on Empty?

     We all occasionally reach points in our lives when we feel empty; sort of like your "running out of gas."  I have felt that way at times.  The demands of life, busyness of schedules, expectations of others and ongoing deadlines, all seem to pile up and create within me a mounting emptiness and exhaustion.  It is precisely at this point in life that I ask the question, "what is really fueling my life?"  What gives me the power to go on?  What creates the incentive, the motivation and the inner resolve to continue to move forward?  When disappointments and circumstances seem to be pressing in on me, what creates that inner fire to take heroic steps forward in doing the next thing, the right thing?
     Since the beginning of this new year, I have been doing a fairly exhaustive study of the personal empowerment available to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is often the forgotten or at least overlooked person of the Trinity.  You know, the God of scripture who has revealed himself in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
     Holy Spirit is a person.  According to Luke 3:16, John the Baptist said: "I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Then at the very end of his book, Luke quotes the words of Jesus saying: "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Lk. 24:49  Has God the Father actually given us a Promise of personal power from on high?  Is the power actually promised to us in the person of Holy Spirit?
     After Jesus was crucified for the sin of the world and raised from the dead, he showed himself to many people, giving them indisputable proof of his resurrection life.  On one of those occasions, he showed himself to his disciples and commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for this Promise of the Father. Acts 1:4  Then he turned his attention to what this promise was and what the promise would do in his disciples and followers.  "But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  Acts 1:8
     Having received this person and the promise of his power, I always come back to Him when I find myself "running on empty."  Baptism literally means drenching, saturating or submersion in.  The baptism in or with Holy Spirit is an outpouring into us and then out of us by which He flows, drenches and saturates our soul and body with his Person, Presence and Power.
     John 7:37-39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his innermost being (Heart) will flow rivers of living water."  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."


     If anyone is thirsty.  If anyone is dry.  If anyone is overwhelmed and empty.  If anyone finds themselves in great need.  When circumstances press in on you and when you wonder if you can go one - that can be the time and our finest hour:  Believe in Jesus as the scriptures presents him.  Receive him through totally yielding to him.  Ask for the Holy Spirit to come in power and be released out of your inner most being.  Allow him to overflow in gratitude, thanksgiving and rejoicing.  He gives His Presence and Power to all who ask and receive in faith.

        RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!  DRINK OF HOLY SPIRIT!  REJOICE IN HOLY SPIRIT.

I invite your comments.  I would love to dialogue about this most amazing gift of Holy Spirit living in us and through us.