Scriptures

Romans 8:11 KJV

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

Galatians 5:25 AMPC

[25] If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

 

Devotional

The word “quicken” in the Scriptures means to vitalize, to make alive, or to give life. 

 

The “quickening spirit” is primarily a phrase found in the King James translation of the Bible and translations based on it. Still, most translations translate it as “life-giving spirit”. 

 

Too often, we find ourselves operating in our religious disciplines and willpower when trying to love each other.

 

This tends to lead to three kinds of results:

1. We fail the expectations of others and ourselves, leaving us condemned and discouraged in our attempts to love.

2. We feel we cannot forgive or accept forgiveness because we have tried and failed so often we no longer feel God’s strength to help us.

3. We allow the fear of the unknown, the fear of man, or the fear of rejection to dominate our decision-making.

 

We activate the quickening, life-giving Spirit of Jesus to love each other through three baptisms:

 

1. Admitting we need the quickening power of the Spirit through prayer, repentance, and worship.

2. Claim God’s grace to reconcile, forgive, and love each other consistently.

3. To humbly accept our limitations without shame so we can love freely without focusing on ourselves.

 

Prayer

Father, in this month of celebrating family, we claim your quickening, life-giving Spirit to love, serve, and forgive each other today and moving forward.

We acknowledge our limitations and accept your grace to start a new season of life and love in our family.

 

Originally published: December 6, 2021