Daily Devotional

Today's devotional: What Are You Full Of?

Devotional Story:

I love to eat.  One of my passions is eating all types of foods.  Conversely, I hate the feeling of being too full.  There is no worse feeling I can put upon myself than that of being too full.  I am uncomfortable and lethargic.  I do not want to do anything or see anyone.  It is awful.

This being the case, I find it interesting when I deny myself and decide to fast and pray, I have a totally opposite feeling.  There is no greater feeling I can bring upon myself then that of being full of the Spirit.  I am contented and energized. I want to accomplish everything and I want to be a part of people’s lives.  It is awesome.  I long to always be full of the Spirit.

Thought for the week:

Before Jesus started his ministry, he fasted and prayed for 40 days and nights.  Then he was tempted by the devil.  I wonder what type of impact our ministry would have if we would deny ourselves and fast and pray to get the mind of Christ.  Jesus was also filled with the Holy Spirit and he was still tempted.  Just because we are filled with the Spirit of God does not mean we will not face temptations. 

Prayer:

God, thank you for your Spirit.  Help me desire Him above all else.  Jesus, long to follow your example of always being full of the Spirit.  Help me be more concerned about being full of the Spirit than full on food.  Holy Spirit, I want a fresh new touch from you daily.  Fill me a fresh and a new today. 

 Scripture:

Luke 4:1-19

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.  

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone."

 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."

 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written:
   " 'He will command his angels concerning you
      to guard you carefully;
   they will lift you up in their hands,
      so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."

 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
  "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Challenge:

Be full of the Spirit