Living the anointed life

“The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.” 1 John 2:27 NKJV

The word anoint means “to pour on and rub in.” In the Old Testament a priest had oil poured over his head, symbolizing the Spirit of God resting on him as he carried out his duties each day. Now fast forward to the age we are living in and read it again: “The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you.” The word abide simply means “to take up residence and live in.” In other words, you’re a container for God’s Spirit. And when His Spirit lives within you, it affects every area of your life. Try to imagine the advantage this gives you when it comes to your relationships, your career, your health, your decisions, your struggles, your marriage, and your ministry. Imagine what it does when you’re under stress and handling overwhelming problems. And furthermore, the anointing of God’s Spirit that “abides” in you is transferable to others. When you speak scriptural words of kindness and encouragement to someone, those words are still at work long after you’re gone because they’re infused with the presence of God. In the Old Testament, God told Moses, “You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations’” (Exodus 30:31 NKJV). Generations! That means your children and grandchildren can be anointed with God’s Spirit too. The psalmist said, “I shall be anointed with fresh oil” (Psalm 92:10). Every morning when you wake up, pray, “Lord, anoint me afresh today.” Then go out and touch others with that anointing!

Bible in a year: Hosea 7-8 and 2 John