“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” Galatians 5:25
Have you ever found yourself in a situation that seemed so perfect you wanted to pinch yourself to see if you were dreaming? Your expectations were being met, you had a sense of accomplishment, and others may have been acknowledging you as a contributor to their happiness. Whatever was happening seemed unreal probably because too often, people, including Christians, go about their lives expecting the worst, or at least something less than perfect to happen. Many enter their world daily, predicting there will be a glitch that will derail their plans, relationships, or moods. So, when something good occurs, other world activities become white noise. For a few moments, they don’t see or hear anything else. PINCH ME moments are not ongoing occurrences for many, so when they happen, many struggles to accept them.
Jesus said that after He would go to be with the Father, a counsellor would come alongside believers so that they could live for Him. The helper would enable His followers to understand and interpret God’s word, recognize choices, and help them live life with hope. The Holy Spirit is this helper and wants to encourage and exhort us. He comes bearing gifts for believers so they can function as the body of Christ and be Jesus’ ambassadors to the world. This helper also transforms us by harvesting His fruit in our lives, the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Most importantly, this Counsellor has come to pinch us throughout the day. He wants to stir us from thinking that our jobs, families, or ministries are the final destinations. He pinches us so that we open our eyes to see God’s will before us. He awakens us to His reality, revealing how much of God is around us daily and how we can be part of His service. The Holy Spirit pinches us to wake us so we will look at our path.
Paul reminded the Galatians that since they will have a heavenly counsellor, they should look to fall in line with Him; we should anticipate and react to His pinches. The Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our lives, and He performs all His miraculous functions as He dwells within us. His presence is not just for a few daily movements. He is with us forever. He will never leave or forsake us; as long as we react, He will continue to pinch. Our challenge is to not only thank God for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives; we must keep in step with the Spirit to recognize His pinches and see and experience God’s glory. Our challenge is to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Pray the Holy Spirit will pinch you often today and that you will be able to recognize it and respond.