See-Seek-Want-Wait

Andrew continued, “After we are born again, we now have a new power within us.” Secundus interrupted, “The Holy Spirit.”

“Yes,” Andrew said, nodding, “And with this new power working in us, our heart starts to be transformed from our will to His will. As we grow – as we continue to work out our salvation – for the first time our will and our actions are in harmony, and our lives reflect Jesus more and more. So we can finally begin to will and to act according to the Father’s good purposes, not ours.”

Secundus said, “And that’s the ‘make every effort’ part to which you were just referring. I see this now. We do our part, but because this is not a self-help program, we seek the Spirit to work in us, to give us the power to will and to act as disciples of the Master.”

Secundus frowned and continued, “I really need to learn to live with the Holy Spirit’s power, Andrew, because trying to be good, trying in my own power to follow Jesus’ teaching, has been a real struggle. No matter how hard I try, or how sincere my intentions, my Self just seems to always get in the way. It’s frustrating, and discouraging, as well.”

Andrew put his hand on Secundus’ shoulder and said, “We all can relate to what you’re saying, my friend. Don’t forget Satan’s three D’s: destroy, distract and discourage. Do not let him discourage you. The way we learn to live more and more with this new Holy Spirit power, is to first: see, then seek, then want, and then wait.”

“Okay, I’ve heard you and the other apostles say that several times. Explain that a little more, please.”

Andrew spread his arms out and looked around them and said, “We first want to see the Spirit everywhere, and anywhere we are. We see we live in a God-saturated world, and we are therefore always surrounded by, and infused with, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Okay,” Secundus nodded, “go on.”

“As we learn to see the Spirit everywhere, we then start to seek him in every situation. We seek him by asking him to empower us, asking him to lead the way, asking him to give us his energy, clarity and creativity.”

“And I’ve heard that, ‘energy, clarity and creativity’ from you, too, Secundus said.”

”Yes, because that is how the Spirit expresses himself in and through us. He gives us an energy beyond our own; he gives us clarity in the fog of this world around us; and he gives us creative ways to respond to this world, and most importantly a new energy, clarity, and creativity in our relationships with our loved ones.

“Then, as we are seeing and seeking, our heart begins to shift from wanting our way and our will, to wanting the Master’s will. And please understand, I am talking about actually wanting his way, not just accepting it as probably the best way. We begin to want his way, because we know it will always be the best way.”

Secundus interrupted Andrew and said, “Not just the best way, but immeasurably, abundantly beyond anything we could ask for, or even imagine to ask for, right?”

Andrew smiled and said, “You got it. As we begin to want his way and his will, we become willing to wait for the Spirit to move. And I have to say, Secundus, this is my greatest area of personal transformation: waiting. I think all the apostles would agree, especially my bombastic, over-reactive big brother! Wanting and waiting have been huge bumps in our trajectory.”