Well, I’m sure you’ve seen her. She walks into the church on Sunday morning, full of confidence (or should I say pride), carrying her big Bible, and dressed to impress. No one can tell her that she doesn’t know God and is not the holiest person on the planet. She knows the Bible backwards and forwards and always has comforting words for others. 

The only problem with this picture is that outside of the church she is a mess. When faced with problems, she does not know what to do. She is depressed, lonely, empty and angry at the world because she can’t keep a good man. She is frustrated with God and most times has no strength to even pray. 

In church she seemed so happy, but in real life something is missing. What exactly is missing? The Lord Jesus said, 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5

The kingdom of God is the place where your life is fulfilled and you have peace and strength to face and overcome everything. Perhaps the lady in this story has even been baptized (I’m willing to guarantee that she has been). But she has not been born of the Spirit. She does not have the Holy Spirit. And because of this great lack, her life is destroyed. 

The only way to be truly happy, fulfilled and strong enough to overcome any and everything, is to receive the Holy Spirit. But this doesn’t happen automatically. This happens when a person seeks with all of their strength to clean up their life, stop being fake, and do what it takes to please Him. The more I seek to please God and ask for His Spirit, He will gladly pour out His Spirit upon me. And once the Holy Spirit is inside of a person, the change begins straight away. That person is made new. And the fruit of the Spirit which is peace, love, self control, and so forth, will be formed inside of the person. And at that point, it is impossible for their life to be a mess. God helps them to fix the broken life and use it as a testimony of His greatness. That’s what He wants for you. And now you know what’s been missing. 

May the God of the Bible bless you

Bishop Bira Fonseca