When the Holy Spirit Works in Us

[HKHaugan]

Here’s the real drive in which we strive to arrive and be alive; not to be spiritual (everyone is to some degree) but to be filled with the Spirit. That changes the way we look at ourselves and others as images of God. It changes our focus from me to others which in turn builds me as a person. That’s when I find out who I am. My identity is always in construction. The more I extend myself, the more I learn who I really am. Examples: I was in a meeting of faculty in the school I was serving as chaplain. It was my first faculty meeting. We were meeting in the chemistry lab. An immediate issue came up about two boys caught smoking. The discussion was serious since they could be sent home. After a bit I did the inexcusable thing. I raised my hand and said, “I think we need to consider something here. We are sitting in a smoke-filled room where half the people here are smoking.” I sat down in the midst of complete and awkward silence. Some defensive remarks followed but the boys were not sent home. I can say that in the next five years I was seen in a rather genteel but colder manner.

 

But seeing things differently through the Spirit gives us spiritual perception. I don’t want to resent; my intent is to relent and repent; thus,

 

I’m not looking to be acceptable; I want to be able to accept.

I’m not looking to be loveable; I want to be able to love.

I’m not looking to be likeable; I want to be able to like.

I’m not looking to be marketable; I want to be able to market what I am.

I’m not looking to be supportable; I want to be able to support.

I’m not looking to be teachable; I want to be able to teach.

I’m not looking to be adorable; I want to be able to adore.

I’m not looking to be honorable; I want to be able to honor.

I’m not looking to be forgivable; I want to be able to forgive.

I’m n to looking to be respectable; I want to be able to respect.

 

I’m not looking to be faithful; I want to be full of faith.

I’m not looking to be graceful; I want to be full of grace.

I’m not looking to be careful; I want to be full of care.

I’m not looking to be truthful; I want to be full of truth.

I’m not looking to be mindful; I want to be full of the Lord’s mind.

I’m not looking to be respectful; I want to be full of respect.

 

Note how it takes the Holy Spirit to bring these subtle transforming qualities.