I was thinking recently about how to live an effective life, one that fully expresses God's character and steadily accomplishes His purposes. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn't a matter of working harder or becoming more diligent - although, without a doubt, those are important attributes.
What occurred to me, is there's a way to do life smarter, a lifestyle that leads to a more consistent, fruitful and effective life experience. It's interesting, just before the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, He said, "it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but If I depart, I will send Him to you."
He was saying there was something better than Him being here in the flesh, something more beneficial for us personally, that being, of course, God the Holy Spirit. God in Spirit form, called inside us to give us a personal and distinct advantage in life!
In the process of designing our lives God never intended for us to live a single day apart from being Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered. His plan was for us to perpetually live under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Not some chemical substance, possession or relationship, but the Spirit of Jesus.
It's essential to live conscious of the indwelling Spirit, to recognize His mission is to super-empower you with wisdom and ability equal to, and greater than anything you might face in life!