I recently read a Biography of A.W. Tozer by Lyle Dorsett titled: A Passion for God: The Spiritual Journey of A.W. Tozer. This recent book on A.W.'s life has deeply impacted me and reminded me not only of who A.W. was, nor simply about my rich heritage in the C&MA but it also deeply impacted me about my own personal yeilding to the Holy Spirit.
Last week and for several weeks prior I noticed a bit of a short fuse within myself. I was getting easily angered and was being really grumpy with my wife and 1 year old son. I'm normally not like this, so I was curous as to what was going on within myself. It was in the midst of this whirlwind of questions I was reading this book on the life of A.W. Tozer.
Seeing Tozer's utter devotion to Christ and his whole-hearted desire to be completely yeiled to the Spirit of the living God convicted me. I noticed I was doing the work of the ministry without the Holy Spirit's presence. I was going it alone so to speak and was putting my head down to get the "work done" but I was not fully yielding to the Spirit of God.
I desire to be a man filled with the Holy Spirit, having His life feed me, empower me, teach me, illuminate mysteries to me and love me. I didn't realize how utterly unfilled I was until I saw a man who was so very filled. A.W. Tozer was not perfect, in fact he neglected his family and wife way too often, but he was a man that was yeilded to the Spirit of God!
When I was in college I learned numerous things about the Holy Spirit, things I had never been taught before and these new learnings caused me to understand the importance of a yeilded life. For some reason, the past few months I had forgotten those lessons.
In the Christian walk, nothing is more important than yeilding ourselves to the power of the Spirit of God. Christ has accomplished tons on the cross and sending us the Spirit was the best earthly accomplishment. Having the Spirit of God free to reign in us is incalculable in its value, and huge in its effect on our lives and our worlds.
The only way to live the Christian the way we were always meant to is by yeilding to the Spirit of God, giving Him the drivers seat in your life and letting Him take you where He wants you.
I want to live a yeilded life, no more doing it on my own, no more getting grumpy and losing the joy of the Lord!
yes far too often Marvin we do leave the Holy Spirit out...go it on our own..I too am guilty. :( I feel your heart's passion and am excited with you! I echo your desire to be utterly consumed by the Holy Spirit and on fire for God. I do agree that A.W. did suffer his family for his calling...I pray that God will illuminate your mind as you continue your steadfast love for Him as well as continue to put your family where they need to be...:) Great article. I am back into A.W.'s Morning/Evening readings-thanks for getting them out of the "library" here!
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