Joy Ride

Imagine a friend goes out of town and generously lets you borrow their car for a week. You’ve never had a car of your own before, and the freedom, joy, and convenience it brings is incredible. You feel unstoppable. But when your friend returns and asks for the keys, you respond, “Actually, this car is mine now.”

Surprised and hurt, your friend replies, “I was going to let you use the car whenever you needed it, no questions asked. But now that I see your heart—that you’ve tried to claim what was never yours—I can’t trust you with it again until I know you’ll honor the gift.”

This is how many of us treat God’s Spirit. The power and presence of God is a gift—freely given to those who ask in humility. We didn’t earn it. We don’t own it. But sometimes, instead of stewarding that gift with reverence, we try to take ownership of it, using it for our own gain, recognition, or control.

God is incredibly generous. He wants to fill us with His Spirit, to share His power, His peace, His wisdom. But He also cares deeply about our posture. He will not give what is holy to those who treat it as common. If we want to walk in the fullness of His benefits, we must learn to respect the Giver more than the gift.

Because access to God’s power comes not through pride, but through humility and trust.