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Title: Building Yourself up by Praying in the Spirit (Part 1)

Consider These Verses
Jude 20 “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)

In the busyness and impersonality of our society, one can find it difficult NOT to feel the rub of cynicism and negativity that is so prevalent in our culture. It seems we are so quick to lash out in anger, criticize each other, or blame one another when anything goes wrong in our lives. I definitely feel this pull towards discouragement as I notice a huge lack of individuals who actually take the time and effort to lift others up intentionally. Recently; however, the staff at my school took the time during one meeting to participate in a very encouraging activity. Each of us took off our shoes and threw them in a pile in the middle of the room. Barefoot and a little reluctant to touch someone else’s smelly shoes, each of us chose a pair of shoes from the pile. After a fellow-employee claimed the shoes we picked, our job was to tell the whole staff something we appreciated about that person. What struck me was not the weirdness of the activity itself, but how much more encouraged we each felt after being told ALOUD that we mattered.

Ephesians 4:29 admonishes us to “…not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (NIV).” As you are probably already aware, the power of life and death is in our tongues and the words we choose to speak to ourselves and others has the ability to be both creative and destructive. This is a principle we all know is true yet most of us find it quite difficult to actually live by this rule in and of ourselves. Left to our own willpower and motivations, we will fail speaking words of life time after time. Thankfully though we are NOT left to our own strength, God has given to us the Holy Spirit and when we surrender our tongues to His control, life will invariably flow from our lips. How cool is that?!?

I know the Lord has given me the ability to teach and I am privileged to share God’s word with the kids at school as well as the kids who come on the bus each Saturday. Yet I am painfully aware that I CANNOT teach effectively on my own. Every time I try to do it alone, the blank stares on the kids’ faces are a sure indicator that nothing is getting through. So I frequently pray on the way to school each day and every Saturday morning that God would fill my mouth with supernatural communication. I know I need the Holy Spirit’s help in order to build others up effectively just as I need His help to build up myself.

So let me encourage you to build yourself up by praying in the Spirit. He is our comforter, encourager, counselor, and closest friend. If you’re like me, maybe you feel like building yourself up is a full-time job, but don’t be discouraged, the Spirit of Life is able to bring you new joy and fresh encouragement each and every day. He is the Living Water, yet we have to choose to drink from His presence daily and wash in His life-giving streams every day or risk the reality of being dirty and thirsty for the rest of our lives. I don’t know about you, but I think I need a drink!
Pray this Prayer
Holy Spirit, I thank you for being full of life and hope. You restore what once was stagnant and dead. So I invite you to breathe afresh in me new life and new hope. Teach me to build up myself and others according to your word. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
My Testimony
About a year ago, I was filled with the Holy Spirit during a special Sunday night service. At the time, I was preparing to speak and share my testimony for the very first time and I was extremely nervous and excited about the opportunity. I knew for certain that I could not get in front of a large group of people and talk about my mistakes and God’s grace on my own strength and initiative…I needed help! So I prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me supernatural boldness and for Him to fill me in every way. He did exactly that and I am eternally grateful!

• - Maegan Neely