But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
–Romans 8:11
What is the one thing on earth that can’t be contained in a box or bottle? It can be created in an instant and likewise, extinguished completely.
It’s fire.
Is anything else on earth like fire? It softens vegetables and hardens dough. It kills bacteria. It warms us. It lights candles and fires up rockets.
God’s Spirit, like fire, cannot be contained. Yet, like fire, He can house Himself in small and big places alike. God is in heaven, and yet He can infiltrate human beings.
He can quietly reside (consider Jesus before Pilate), He can open mouths to speak (like Moses before Pharaoh), and He can fill hearts with courage (like humble Gideon preparing for war).
Paul tells us the same Spirit that did the mightiest miracle of all, raising Jesus from the dead, is available to us. The Spirit that brought movement to dead limbs can do the same for us.
Those inabilities that we have, those deficits of ours, those walls that jail us in, those lifeless, loveless parts of ourselves — our marriages, our parenting, our mental health, our decision-making — can be raised up.
God can breathe new life into us. His Spirit can change us.
If He can conquer the biggest challenge of all, death, certainly He can work greater life into our living bodies.
Prayer
Dear Lord, Please light a holy fire within me. Change me with Your Spirit and use me to change the world for You. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
What part of my life do I desire for God to breathe new life into? I will talk to Him about it.