Hang Around or Hang Ten?

I read this quote this morning by Jim Cymbala:

"How we live is more important than how long we live. What is the sense of living a long life just to hang around and take up space? I would rather live a few meaningful years for Christ than hang on to age eighty-nine and accomplish little."

What do you think?

We've been seeking this week in our 60/60 experiment to stay connected to the Spirit. We are told to "be strong in the Lord and His mighty power" (Eph 6:10) . . . and it is in this willingness to allow God's Spirit to have more and more of us (see Eph 5:18) that crazy, supernatural, meaningful things begin to flow out of our life.

D.L. Moody said this: "A great many of us think because they have been filled once, they are going to be full for all time after; but my friends, we are leaky vessels, and have to be kept right under the fountain all the time in order to keep full . . ."

It keeps coming back to my mind this week, how many of us would be free of anger or envy or apathy that control us if we were continually filled with the Spirit. How many of us wouldn't have the distractions in our lives that keep us living for the Kingdom if we were continually filled with Spirit. How many of us wouldn't battle the porn and food and drug/alcohol addictions we do if we would allow the Spirit to take over. How many of us would quit playing church and become dangerous for the Kingdom of God if we lived in the power of God's Spirit. How many people we would see coming to Christ if we were filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit!

Fresh Power

I'm rereading a book by Jim Cymbala that I read several years ago -- Fresh Power . . .

He had this prayer at the end of a chapter that really spoke to the heart of what I talked about Sunday and what we are seeking to experience in 60/60 . . . I encourage you to own it in your soul this morning . . .

"Dear Father, please stir our hearts to reach out for all that you have promised us. Forgive our carnality, our indifference to the spiritual realities around us, and our dependence on human resources rather than your power. Teach us to pray and wait upon you in humility and faith; send the wind and fire of Your Spirit upon us. Transform us into men and women who bear powerful witness in word and deed to the reality of Jesus Christ our Savior. We ask all of this in His precious Name. Amen."