I’m sure none of you are like me when trying to put something together. The instructions just stay in the nice plastic bag that they came in. “I’ve got this!” I can do it on my own. What kinda person would I be if I resorted to “help”. An hour later, I’m struggling to figure out why it’s not working the way that I had clearly in my head. I’m trying to fill in the blanks with my own logic, and it’s a disaster. Had I just relied on the instructions in the first first place.
Life can feel a lot like that, can’t it? We try to fill the empty spaces, the longings, and the desires with our own solutions. We fill them with ambition, with entertainment, with relationships, with control. We think, “I’ve got this.”
That’s what the Apostle Paul is talking about in Ephesians 5:18. He says, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Now, on the surface, Paul is talking about alcohol. But Paul is getting at something so much deeper. He’s talking about being “under the influence” of something that is not God. It’s a picture of letting our selfish desires take the driver’s seat. But he gives us an alternative. He says don’t be influenced by that; instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be filled means to be guided, controlled, and influenced by Him in everything we do. It’s a total surrender.
So how do we do that? How do we move from being filled with "us" to being filled with the Holy Spirit? I think it comes down to praying three simple but powerful things.
Holy Spirit, Transform Me. This isn’t about trying harder to be a better person. This is about surrender. What does this surrender look like? Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That fruit doesn’t grow because we grit our teeth and try harder. It grows when the Holy Spirit is working in the soil of our hearts. And this is only possible because Jesus came to reconcile us to God, making a way for the Spirit to come and live inside of us, transforming us from the inside out. Let’s ask Him to do that work. Holy Spirit, transform Me.
Holy Spirit, Guide Me. In John 16:13, Jesus promises, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” Jesus knew we couldn’t navigate this life on our own. Right before in verse 12 He even told the disciples, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.” We need a guide! We need someone to convict us when we get off track and to illuminate the path forward. Let’s pray for that guidance today—in our parenting, our jobs, our finances, and our decisions. Let’s stop trying to read the map ourselves and ask the Guide to lead the way. Holy Spirit, Guide Me.
Holy Spirit, Empower Me. This is my favorite part. We are not just saved from our sin; we are saved for a purpose! Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” You have a mission. I have a mission. We are here to be witnesses for Jesus. And we don’t do it in our own strength. The same power that conquered the grave is available to us to love our neighbor, to share our story, and to be a light in the darkness. Come on! That should fire us up!
So as we pray, let’s surrender. Let’s hand over our self-made plans. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to transform us, to guide us, and to empower us. He is ready and waiting to fill us up.