The Spirit's Work Within

When our goals are aligned with God’s purpose and call, we experience His peace and blessings in incredible ways. In the lives of Nehemiah, Moses, Joseph, Esther, and many more, we can see evidence of this throughout God’s matchless Word. Through the records of these individuals, it’s clear that life wasn’t always easy. This is true for followers of Christ living today. Life, by it’s very nature, is packed with highs and lows, but God is our sweet anchor, fortifying us even in times of tribulation and uncertainty. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) tells us: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”Our Heavenly Father has good plans for our lives, and it is essential that we’re committed to grow in faith and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is how we become the person God created us to be and receive all that He has in store for our lives.

The Spirit Draws Us Near to God

If we get gut-level honest with ourselves, sometimes our agendas don’t align with God’s agenda. We desire things that have nothing to do with our purpose, and quite frankly, some of those things will do more to harm than help us. Often our desires are motivated out of fear—a fear of not having enough, of not being enough, or of being alone. When fear is at the helm, the outcome is never what we expect. Trying to force a square peg into a round hole not only wastes our resources, but it leaves us unsatisfied and exhausted. God makes it very plain to us in Proverbs 19:21 (NLT), “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” Fulfilling God’s purpose is the very best life any of us could ever hope to live. We may have our own ideas and plans, but God’s purpose will always prevail; no matter how much we try to control things.

We can be sure that the Holy Spirit has a perfect and all-encompassing view of our motivations, desires, and even the darkness of our hearts. Hebrews 4:13 (NLT) declares: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Nothing is kept a secret from God’s Holy Spirit. He knows every part of us, but here’s the amazing thing: The Spirit doesn’t come to punish us for our weaknesses and shortcomings. Instead, He comes to guide us. Jesus Christ tells us in John 16:13 (NLT), “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” Rather than condemning us, the Spirit redirects us, showing us which path to take. He reveals the path that keeps us anchored in God’s purpose and blessings. When we go off track, he gently leads us back to the Father’s Will.

He Convicts usRomans 5:5 (NLT) says: “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” When we accept Christ, God fills our hearts with His love through the Holy Spirit. And not just His love, but all the other treasures that come with the empowerment of the Spirit. Ephesians 1:3 informs us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings because of our union with Christ; we lack no good thing. into our hearts. We are children of the Most High, conduits of God’s love, brothers and sisters of Christ and replicas of his personhood. This is our identity. It’s what we were called to when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. We received the gift of eternal life, and we are made one with God through Christ.

We’re reminded in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. This verse tells us that we do not belong to ourselves; we belong to God. So, it’s perfectly logical and spiritually sound that because our body temples are the Spirit’s dwelling place, we’ve got no business partnering with darkness of any kind. If something within isn’t rooted in God’s love, it must be transformed, not out of punishment, but out of His amazing mercy and grace. When you have that feeling in your soul that you can’t shake, and it just keeps calling out for your attention, it’s time to pray. Often that feeling is tied to the conviction of our souls. The Spirit is calling our attention to the sin that’s been weighing us down in some area of our lives.

Jesus Christ said in John 16:8 (NLT), “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” The Spirit makes us aware of our desperate need for Jesus and repentance. He shines a light on the parts of our hearts and souls that are broken and still in darkness.  It’s not a condemning voice, but a gentle whisper that calls us to repent and return to the Father. The Spirit’s conviction is a demonstration of God’s grace, and it leads us closer to the heart of God.

The Spirit’s Empowerment

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work is the power He provides us with. Acts 1:8 (NLT) tells us: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Spirit’s power equips every born-again believer to live victoriously through Jesus Christ.

Life isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s more challenging and painful than any of us could ever imagine, but praise the Lord, we are not left to navigate life on our own strength. The Spirit equips us to do what we cannot do on our own. He empowers us to live powerfully through our faith in God as we serve others and fulfill God’s purpose. to bear fruit. The Spirit fills us with boldness. As he did for the disciples and many others, the Spirit gives us the courage to speak and act in ways that honor God. He grants us special spiritual abilities to build up the body of Christ and to fulfill the calling our Heavenly Father has placed on our lives. Without Him, we would be could not make it, but with the Spirit’s power, we are equipped for every good work.

The Spirit’s work within us is a beautiful and ongoing process. He convicts, transforms, empowers, guides, teaches, and comforts us. He leads us into a deeper relationship with God, and the more we allow the Spirit to have his way in our lives, the more we reflect the character of Christ. Let’s give ourselves the gift of surrendering to the Spirit’s leadership and guidance. Allow him to be at work in your life, so you can do all the good things God planned for you and receive the fullness of all He has in store for your life. ■

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

“The Spirit’s Work Within”, written by Vince Mack. Blessing Beads and More© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.