Living a Spirit-filled Life

September 29, 2026

A compilation

I used to think the “safe” Christian life was the goal. You know the one—where we follow all the rules, stay comfortable in our routines, and avoid anything that might feel too risky.

That all changed when I started reading Acts and I realized Jesus never promises this kind of safety. He promises power.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

When Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, they were probably expecting a detailed road map for ministry. Instead, He gave them something far better: a promise of supernatural power from the Holy Spirit. Not when they felt ready or had their act together but simply when the Spirit arrived.

Then the disciples would become witnesses in Jerusalem (their hometown); Judea (familiar, surrounding areas); Samaria (uncomfortable, culturally different places); and the ends of the earth (completely unknown territories). This was a declaration of what would happen when they said “yes” to the Holy Spirit’s wild invitation.

Here’s what gets me excited: This same promise is for us today.

We don’t have to wait until we feel qualified. The power isn’t dependent on our perfection. It’s dependent on the Holy Spirit.

But let’s be honest … walking with the Spirit can feel inconvenient and unpredictable. He might lead us to have difficult conversations, serve in ways that stretch us, or step into opportunities that feel way too big for our capabilities. The Spirit-filled life isn’t the “safe” life, but it’s the most worthwhile life we could ever choose.

God is calling us to be His witnesses. Maybe it’s in our workplace, where we’ve been playing it safe instead of walking in boldness. Maybe it’s in our neighborhood, where we’ve been too busy to really connect with people. Or maybe it’s in that dream we’ve been too scared to pursue.

The beautiful truth is that we don’t have to figure out the “how”—that’s the Spirit’s job. Our job is simply to say “yes” to the adventure. To be willing to go from our “Jerusalem” to our “ends of the earth”—wherever the Spirit leads—trusting that His power is sufficient for whatever lies ahead.

The disciples had no idea how their “yes” would change the world. But they said it anyway, and the Spirit did what only He could do through ordinary people who were willing to be used in wild ways.

Father, thank You that You haven’t called me to a safe, predictable life but to a powerful, Spirit-filled adventure. Help me say “yes” to Your wild invitation, even when it feels scary or uncertain. Fill me freshly with Your Holy Spirit today, and make me a bold witness wherever You lead—in the familiar places and in the territories that stretch my faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.—Mac Bridges¹

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The fruit of the Spirit of God is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). God the Father is the gardener (John 15:1), and He desires us to be fruitful. …

There are many ways Christians can be fruitful. True fruitfulness begins in the heart with the fruit of the Spirit. That inner fruit affects outward actions; our words and our activities will glorify the Lord, and God’s will is accomplished. God’s desire is to transform us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and make us as fruitful as He was. In our allegiance to Him, we want to be characterized by good works (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:7; Colossians 1:10), humility (Ephesians 4:2; Titus 3:2), and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). We want to always be ready to “give an account for the hope that is within [us]” (1 Peter 3:15). … The result of spiritual fruitfulness is that God is glorified, we grow, and others come to know Christ—this is the ultimate fruitfulness for a child of God (Matthew 5:16; Acts 20:26–27; Mark 16:15).—Got Questions²

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You can’t make yourself grow spiritually. It doesn’t come by self-effort. It comes by living close to Jesus, living in His Word, soaking up His love, being filled with His Spirit, and engaging in heart-to-heart communication with Him.—Activated Magazine

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There is only one person just like you in the entire universe, and you are precious to Me! You are My handiwork—My masterpiece—created to do the good works that I prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). While this requires commitment and determination on your part, always remember that it is the power of My Spirit at work within you that will empower you to become and do all that I have planned for you.

I have designed you to be like a lamp filled with the oil of My Spirit that radiates My light to the world around you. It is important that you tend well to your lamp and allow Me to replenish you, so that your light will shine so brightly that people will see your good works and be drawn to Me (Matthew 5:14–16).

Take time to come to Me in prayer and to study My Word, which will give you the strength to persevere and to keep your eyes on the things that truly matter. Take a moment to praise and worship Me, and let your heart overflow with My joy. As you enter into My presence with thanksgiving, I will fill you with all joy and peace so that you may overflow with hope by the power of My Spirit (Romans 15:13).—Jesus

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Jesus told His disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). We read about this power to witness in the book of Acts in the New Testament, on the Day of Pentecost when the first disciples received the Holy Spirit, and they stood up and boldly preached to the people, resulting in the salvation of 3,000 souls. (See Acts chapter 2.)

Peter, who had been so fearful when Jesus was arrested that he denied Him three times, preached fearlessly and with boldness to the multitudes after he was filled with the Holy Spirit. This showed that whatever Peter accomplished was not of him, but of Christ that lived first with him and then in him. “For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We all need the baptism of the Holy Spirit in order to have the love, power, and strength to be what He wants us to be.

As is the case with salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit by faith—which means you do not always get immediate evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Holy Spirit will manifest Himself in your life—it may be at that very moment or it may not be until later. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Once you have received the divine anointing of God’s Spirit, if you continue to abide in God’s Word in the Bible and are obedient to Jesus’ commands, you’ll be led by His Spirit. “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14).

When you ask God for the Holy Spirit, you’ll know you have received the promised infilling just as you know you are saved—because the Bible says so. “For faith comes by hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds” (Matthew 7:7–8). “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

If you haven’t yet received or been infilled with the Holy Spirit, you can do so right now by praying the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, please fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit so that I can love You more, understand Your Word in the Bible, follow You more closely, and have greater power to tell others about Your love and salvation. Amen.—Activated Magazine

Published on Anchor September 2026. Read by Jon Marc. Music by Michael Fogarty.

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