GodReflection: Talking with God.
God placed into my life Bible Professor LeMoine Lewis as one of Jesus’ bright lights for a young college student. I can still see his entrance into the first class of the day, with arms extended to carry a shelf of books secured from under his chin down to his large-cupped hands. From a couple of fingers hung a leather satchel for the class role and his notes which he rarely glanced.
On the first day he began to trace the inaugural story of Jesus’ perfect church, composed, and led by imperfect disciples. For the remainder of the course, century by century, he introduced many of those flawed followers who delivered Jesus’ salvation act to our generation. From memory with rapid speech Professor Lewis the animated storyteller would resurrect before our eyes the old church disciples.
In each class we took care to not break a pencil lead or miss a word as we wrote madly for the hour and twenty minutes. We could only pause to catch our breath on the occasions when he might reach for his tall stack of books to read as he did a prayer of Augustine of Hippo from the fourth century whose conversations with God continue to enlighten.
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.
Earlier in this series of posts I referred to the Holy Presence. It is the assurance of the believer to know Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always near. As followers of Jesus, we take him at his word that when we enter baptismal waters in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit we rise to walk each day with God the Holy Spirit inside to help us meet the challenges of each new dawn. With the difficulties thrown at us by life we can see it is indeed true.
If that is true, it makes no sense that we human types have the tendency to believe we can power our way through each day by the strength of our own ability. Yet, all too often that is the way we live, oblivious to the Holy Spirit imbedded within (who most likely does abundantly more for us than we are aware). We fail to take full advantage of his presence because we attempt to direct our own destiny.
Now, let me reflect again on the prayer of our early brother Augustine. Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Don’t I need to have more holy thoughts? Can I make holy thoughts appear? Don’t I need Holy help to have holy thoughts? Shouldn’t I join with Augustine and pray Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. But my good deeds are anemic unless the Holy Spirit will Act in me, That my work, too, may be holy. Only holy thoughts generate holy work.
There is yet a bigger job for the Holy Spirit who make his home inside me. It takes the right kind of heart to generate holy thoughts that transform actions. And if only holy thoughts generate holy work, my heart must be holy to create holy thoughts. Gracious acts will never proceed from an unholy heart. So, I join the disciple Augustine to pray Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy.
However, my need continues. I need additional assistance. Once I receive the Holy Spirit provision for a holy heart, holy thoughts, holy deeds, holy love, I must ask him to Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy.
I am to defend all that is holy—through my dependance upon the HOLY—to live among all I encounter as a small reflection of his holy light. I must receive his strength to live holy. I am not called to point out defects in others. I am called to defend whatever holiness I have in my life from Satan who is out to turn off the reflection of my Jesus-light. Yes, Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.
Isn’t this a talk we can all have with God? Shouldn’t we sit down with him for coffee time and open the conversation with, Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on Breathe In Me O Holy Spirit.
God Reflection 
Amén, dear Gary, amen. I praise God for the ways He blesses us all through His living in you!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
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