Be Filled with the Spirit

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)

Spirit of God,

I find this instruction interesting. Paul contrasts being filled with wine with being filled with you. Both can fill with joy, one with artificial joy that leads to trouble, the other - you - also fills us with joy, but with true joy. He also suggests that, though we are filled with you at our baptism, we can have more of you and that having more of you is somewhat up to us.

I pray these children seek to be filled with more of you. May they immerse themselves in your sword, the word of God, and thereby fill themselves more with you. May they spend time in prayer by which you communicate to the Father their needs and fill them more with your presence. And may they pray, as Jesus said they could, simply to have more of you. More of your presence, more of your transforming power and more of your guidance as they seek to keep in step with you and exhibit more of your fruit.

Amen