I was a teenager when I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I was as serious as a heart attack about asking Jesus into my life and following Jesus Christ. For a short time, I did pretty good but in time I was right back to doing the same things, not good things, but sinful stuff that I did before I had accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Why?
My buddies, teammates and coaches knew I went to church, but they could not see anything different about Jim Dunn. I remember my college basketball coach, Bob Baker, saying to me one day, “Dunn, I thought you were a Christian and went to church?” Those words stung, I mean really stung. But nothing changed- absolutely nothing.
You see, I knew I had truly accepted Jesus Christ into my life, but, and here was the problem, I knew absolutely nothing about the Holy Spirit. No one and I mean no one ever helped me to understand that even as a Christian, I had no power or ability to conquer sin or sinful behavior that was at work in me. Years went by and I tried in my own strength to live for Christ and I failed.
Then an older, wiser Christian who told me about the Holy Spirit, who already was 100% alive in me, but I was 100% trying to live this Christian life on my own. What? I don’t understand. Why Lord? Why? He explained that the day I accepted Jesus Christ, I received the gift of the Holy Spirit to lead me, guide me, instruct me, empower me, and yes to groan on my behalf so I could faithfully live a life of purpose. No one had even told me about the Holy Spirit. He showed me Romans 8:26 which says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps us (Jim Dunn) in our (my) weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (me) with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
No longer was it, “Why God? Why?”, but now it was, “Wow God! Wow!” When I don’t know what to say or do, I can simply ask the Holy Spirit who is living in me for His perfect help. When I trust in Jim Dunn I don’t do so well, but when I lean into and on the Holy Spirit, it is amazing how different life is. Even the toughest most difficult times are perfect in the presence of the Holy Spirit’s perfect love, power and comfort.
I shared this today because if I had no clue about the Holy Spirit in me after receiving Jesus Christ, plus going to churches for years, is it possible that you could be reading this message and your life is way less than it should be because you are trying to do this Christian thing on your own strength? If this is you as it was me, reach out to your pastor, a friend or someone who can help you to understand the Holy Spirit and the powerful words in Romans 8. The Holy Spirit longs for us to live as “more than conquerors through Him who loves us” rather than being conquered by the foolishness of the world around us.
Say “no” to “Why Lord? Why?”
Say “yes” to “Wow Lord! Wow!”