The Summer of Learning

It's past the Fourth of July, summer is over the hill.  Whenever it hits the Fourth it seems like the summer is half over.  It has been a busy one and yet there is much more business to come.  I have not posted in a long time as it seems like I have nothing to say, only in actuality I have so much on my mind. 
I started a new Bible study this summer,  Living Beyond Yourself , Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore.  I had completed this study on my own without the additional videos earlier, so I thought I was doing this study again for others, and just as a review for myself.  But God had other plans for me.  I was taught something that will always stay with me.  With the Holy Spirit you "Do things you couldn't, feel things you didn't, and know things you wouldn't."  The Holy Spirit has an empowering power and God gives it to you when you become His child.  But we can not be full of ourselves and coexist with the Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:17).  So every day you must Pour out, pour in, and pour forth. 
Pour out - is to pour out your confessions.  When you pour out your confession, you will have freedom, you will then stand before God clean and pure but you must accept that purity and not bow down to the guilt that we put on ourselves.  We must pour out our concerns (see Ps 62:8), " bear your soul" to God, tell him what things are bothering you, pour out any anxiety, because it is like a drink offering to Him.
Pouring In - ask God to fill us up, ask God to fill us up with the Holy Spirit. (Eph 5:18)
Pour Forth - Go out into the day and pour out his Holy Spirit in your actions.  (2 Cor 3:5-6)
I have been doing this in my quiet time in the morning and I have been able to "Do things  I couldn't, feel things I didn't, and know things I wouldn't."  I have gotten a peace when I was asked to do something I really wanted to do but it was not the right time in my life for it, so I needed to say no.  I have had a peace in dealing with children, that I didn't know I had (now that's not to say that I haven't gotten angry too, but it has helped me be a better mom).  I have learned that when God says He will remove my sins as far as the east is from the west, and remember them no more, that He means that and I need to stand before Him and accept that humbling, sobering fact.  I have learned that to confess your sins means to say them out loud and not say, forgive my sins, Lord.  Because when you name each thing you do wrong, you will be less likely to repeat those same sins, but by being generic you are more likely to be a repeat offender. 
I am not sure all this makes sense but for me it does.  Thankfully the Lord is leading me and allowing me to Learn by Grace.  Have a great day!