Fill Me Now, Holy Spirit

Daily Devotional – Wednesday, August 9, 2023
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31 (NKJV)

Fill me now, fill me now,
Jesus, come and fill me now:
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

All Filled with the Holy Spirit

These powerful lyrics are the refrain of Elwood H. Stokes’ hymn, Hover O’er Me, Holy Spirit. Stokes composed this song in 1879, but its message is as fresh and relevant today as it was then. It speaks of the greatest need of a Christian.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His disciples that they would receive power, with the Holy Spirit’s descent. True to Christ’s word, “when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31).

Imbue Me Now

We need to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us because only God’s presence can insulate us against evil. Hence, we join Stokes in Stanza 1 as we plead:
Hover o’er me, Holy Spirit,
Bathe my trembling heart and brow;
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

Although we may not understand exactly how God’s Spirit will fill us, when we realize our dire need for God, we supplicate with the hymn writer in Stanza 2:
Thou canst fill me, gracious Spirit,
Though I cannot tell Thee how;
But I need Thee, greatly need Thee;
Come, O come and fill me now.

Permeate My Life

In addition, when we comprehend just how saturated we are with sin and how utterly helpless we are to overcome our weaknesses; we join Stokes in Stanza 3 as we request:
I am weakness, full of weakness;
At Thy sacred feet I bow;
Blest, divine, eternal Spirit,
Fill with love, and fill me now.

Finally, as we understand the purifying effect of the indwelling Holy Spirit on our thoughts, attitudes, speech, emotions, and character, our prayer assumes the lyrics in Stanza 4:
Cleanse and comfort, bless and save me;
Bathe, O, bathe my heart and brow;
Thou art comforting and saving,
Thou art sweetly filling now.

Fill Me Now, Holy Spirit

Today, ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit by reciting this refrain:
Fill me now, fill me now,
Jesus, come and fill me now.
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence,
Come, O come and fill me now.

Prayer
Fill me now, Holy Spirit.