“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52
By Dana Mares
God had been prompting me to go on a mission trip and when the opportunity came to go on an all-women trip to Cuba I knew that was the trip I was supposed to take. I did not know what to expect, but I had a sense of anticipation for what God was going to do. Of course, I had fears and anxieties as well but as I boarded our flight there was an overwhelming sense of God’s presence. I was not alone, not just because there were also 10 fabulous women going along but because the Holy Spirit was right there with me.
Our time in Cuba was divided between serving in the local church and community and a women’s conference at a camp outside of Havana. The theme for the conference was the Holy Spirit. As a team we had been praying for months that God’s Spirit would show up in a mighty way during this time and wow… did He ever! Through solid Biblical teaching we were challenged to go deeper in our walk with the Lord, to live in the overflow of the Spirit and not by our own efforts. We saw God bring freedom and hope to many women as we shared personal testimonies. We “raised an alleluia” in Spanish and English at the same time and reflected the glory of the Lord in the unity of believers.
“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord – who is the Spirit- makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NLT)
In Cuba we found amazing beautiful people with hearts hungry for more of God. We found that worship has no language barriers. We found a passion for the Lord that both inspired and challenged us. We found that women have the same hurts and life experiences all over the world and that God is moving to bring healing and hope. We found that prayer is a universal language. And we found sisters in Christ that will forever be in our hearts.
Reflection:
These words from the conference theme song still play in my mind: “Holy Spirit You are welcome here”... As the owner of a Bed & Breakfast I understand the importance of being a welcoming host. I put out the best china and linens and I spend hours baking and preparing for my guests. Why? Because I want them to feel welcomed.
How often do we put the same kind of effort into welcoming the Spirit to work in our lives? Have we prepared our hearts? Do we spend enough time in God’s Word and in prayer? Are we thirsty for God?
Spirit-filled hearts don’t just happen, they come from an overflow of the Holy Spirit working in our lives as we seek Him daily.
Prayer:
Lord, we pray for more of Your Spirit in our lives. We pray as David prayed in Psalm 63:1, “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” Thank you that when we seek you, You allow yourself to be found. Thank you that You are in the process of continually making us more like You. Help us to be ever mindful of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. We love You Lord. Amen.