"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters."
Did you ever get sooooooooo excited about something that you just went and plunged right into it? Your wedding day. The day you found out you were pregnant with your first child. Your first job. Bubbling excitement that caused you to run and tell everyone. Most certainly this often happened as children, like on Christmas morning. We'd get so excited to see all the goodies under the tree that we'd simply tremble all over, wiggle like jello, then just start grabbing to see what we got. Sometimes we'd get so excited we'd grab the wrong gift. Uh-oh.... but still lots of fun. Uncontainable joy.
When I read these two verses in the beginning of Genesis, I wonder at the joy, the eagerness, the anticipation of God as He ponders what He is about to do. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit all together; the love, the joy, the trembling readiness as they prepare to create the world. Can we do it now, huh, huh? Can we? Can we? I'm ready, I'm ready NOW.
The last part of verse 2 says this: ". . . and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." Was hovering. Waiting. Expecting. Not acting. Holding back. Examining. Watching. Listening. Eager. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. The Holy Spirit of God is subject to the command of God and will not act on His own, but only as God the Father directs. Isn't this awesome? The Spirit of God is subject to the command of God.
We are made in God's image. We are body, soul and spirit, triune beings. OUR spirit is under our control, and should act only at our express command. 1 Cor 14:32 says that "the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet." We have control over ourselves the same as God the Father has control over Himself. And the spirit is obedient to what we tell him. One of the Fruit of the Spirit is "self-control". There ya'r. Control of self. Control of our spirits. Not allowing "fools to rush in where angels fear to tread". Sometimes these songs ring with truth.
The Spirit of God waited upon God for direction, timing, and permission. If God's Holy Spirit is so in tune with God, so obedient, can we do any less? As our spirits look to us for direction, timing and permission, so we must look to God.
Are we practicing self-control? Are we copy cats of God?
"Sweet Jesus, change my heart, Lord. I want my heart to be yours. Help me, Master, as I submit to you, to bring my spirit under control also. Forgive me when I fail, and strengthen and renew me to do better with each try. Lead me in obedience, Jesus. Amen."
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