Are You Filled-Up?

I've been reading a "mothers" magazine for about 4 years now, first given to me by Mike's Aunt Kathy. It is called "Above Rubies" and has been an incredible blessing to me over these years. I also receive occasional e-mail devotionals from the editor of Above Rubies, Nancy Campbell.

Can I share some parts with you?

God wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
It is so easy to run dry, isn't it? We can start the day asking the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit but somehow the challenges and frustrations of the day drain us out. We need to continually ask the Holy Spirit to fill us -- to control our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions. When you leak out, ask Him to flood your mind and heart again. Keep on being filled. It doesn't matter how many times you come to Him to be filled. God's well is inexhaustible and it never runs dry. Keep being filled to overflowing so you can bless your family. If you are only half-filled, you have nothing to give others.

God wants us to be filled with Joy and Peace:
God does not want us to have half peace and half nervous tension. He wants us to be filled with peace. Peace is not dependent upon what is happening in our lives but by the power of the Holy Spirit controlling us....But there is joy too. Joy and Peace are twins. When our hearts are filled with peace, we will be filled with joy. Once again, joy is not dependent upon our circumstances. When the people of Antioch (in Turkey) persecuted Paul and Barnabus and expelled them out of their coasts, they didn't despair. Instead, they were "filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 13:52)

The above quote is from Part 2 of Keep on Being Filled. If you want to read more, go to www.aboverubies.org and click on the Devotionals tab. Look under archives to find this and other wonderful devotionals. I also suggest ordering the magazine that comes 4 times a year.