I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Ezekiel 36:26-27

Can you imagine what the Christian life would be like if Jesus said to his disciples (and us, by extension), “I’ve shown you how to live. Now get out there and do it!” Do you understand how frustratingly impossible that would be? Even from the days of the Old Testament, the promise was to give God’s people the motivation and power to follow Jesus. Upon your new birth and being placed in God’s kingdom, the real person of the Holy Spirit has been placed in you to give you the power and strength to carry out what the Son has commanded. 

This power is available right now! Read Ephesians 5:18. Paul uses the word, “filled.” That means “all of you, choose to give yourself over moment by moment to being empowered, filled up through and through with Jesus.” A sister verse would be Colossians 3:16, which is “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” What’s stopping you from being empowered right now by his Spirit who lives inside of you? What would stop you from letting the very word of Jesus take root in your life? Take a moment and pray to be filled up through and through with his Spirit who resides in you. 

Father, your word is clear that those who yield their life to the power of the Spirit have nothing to be fearful of. They have nothing to be anxious about. They have nothing to grind on in worry. Today, I want to be filled up with your Spirit. Thank you that as you command me to do so, I trust you that he will work in my heart and mind to give me courage today.