Devotions based on Albert Haase’s book, This Sacred  Moment

How do we discern the Spirit’s presence in our lives?  Sometimes we forget to give full rein to the Spirit and to follow His lead, and not our own. “A selfless response to God’s call in this sacred moment is a reliable indicator that we are living in the Spirit and stoking the Spirit’s fire in our lives.” Whether we are talking about Spiritual formation or spirituality, the H.S. plays a decisive role. Isn’t it neat that God gifts us with His Spirit without measure?  Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom and that also means freedom from the ego and freedom for the enrichment of others and the community. The life lived in the Spirit is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit found in Gal. 5. The first 5 traits are the fruit of selflessness.  TO live in the Spirit is to experience a life of joy and peace that is rooted deep within our hearts, not just superficial exuberance.  Patience is another trait that expands our hearts. It gives us the ability to accept delay or tolerate trouble and suffering with trustful surrender.  It also is expressed in the willingness to persevere and persist. Gentleness is another fruit found in those who no longer have to get their way or control and manipulate. It is putting everything into God’s hands and saying, “Let it be done to me according to your will.”  Self-control is about interior freedom instead of being weighed down by ego demands. How freeing it is when we can become empty of self and let His joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self-control be expressed in our lives.