The Missing Dimension in Bev's Life

"Thirteen years ago I discovered what was really missing in my life," shared Beverly LaHaye in The Spirit-Controlled Woman. Before that time she had been a fearful, introverted person with a poor self-image. It was difficult for her to entertain because she was fearful of not living up to the expectations of friends. She refused most invitations to speak to women's groups because she felt inadequate and wondered if she really had anything to say.

"After all, who wants to hear what a young woman has to say whose only accomplishment in life has been giving birth to four children?" she wondered. One well-meaning lady had come to her in the early days of their ministry and said, "Our last pastor's wife was an author; what do you do?" That was a heavy question for a fearful 27-year-old woman.

She began to wonder, "What do I do?" Oh yes, she was a good mother to her four children, her husband adored her, she kept house reasonably well, but what could she do that would be eternally effective in the lives of other women? Her answer seemed to be, "Very little." There was something missing in her life.

While attending a conference, she heard for the first time about the filling of the Holy Spirit and the effect it could have on her future. She recognized that this was the missing dimension in her life.

"I simply asked God to fill me with the Holy Spirit and to do the impossible thing through me by this new power within. There was no outward sign or expression except for a beautiful quiet peace that settled in my heart and the new confidence that God was going to do something far better with my life than I had been able to do.

Thank You, Father, that being filled with Your Spirit empowers us to live in freedom.

"Receive the Holy Spirit"(John 20:22). "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8).