We’ve noted before that as His children, God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (2 Tim 1:7). The Holy Spirit is a direct reflection of God because the Holy Spirit is God. Jehovah has poured Himself into His Church. And as His children, we have His Agape love in us that directs our nature, creating in us the desire, the need, the overwhelming want, to live our lives in, for, with, and through God.

The thought processes by which we live are to be a reflection of God’s thought processes. He specifically directed us to [Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel]. But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short] (1Peter 1:14-17).

As we know, God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:9). So, as His children, we are to redo our thought processes and bring them in line with His thought processes, and redo our actions and bring them in line with His actions. This is the basis for Rom. 12:2, in which we are warned, Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. We are to stop thinking like the world thinks and begin thinking (and acting) like God. Seems almost an impossible task, but God never gives us impossible tasks. Tough ones sometimes, yes, but not impossible.

With our purely human mind, and its purely human outlook and understanding, thinking like God thinks is impossible. But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart (1Cor. 2:16b). We have the mind of Christ! That mind of perfection that never spoke of His own desires, but rather spoke only what God instructed Him to speak (John 12:49). And that can be ours. Jesus told us most directly that when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future] (John 16:13). As the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny] (1Cor. 2:9-10).

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is being filled with the thoughts, purposes, actions, and directives of God, Himself. It is as close to God as we can come in this physical existence. But, and we always have to remember this but, it’s our choice (Deut. 30:19). God has made Himself available to us, how do we choose to participate?

Gracious Father, I give You praise and thanks for making Yourself fully available to me. Help me to take full advantage of all that You have provided through the death of my Brother Jesus on the cross. Help me to live my life in such a way that I reflect You to those around me. In Jesus name, thank You Father.