“Moved by the Spirit,

he went into the temple courts.

When the parents brought in the child Jesus…

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God..”

Luke 2:27,28

When I read this last week, I was so struck by the “being moved” part.  Because Simeon was willing to be moved by the Holy Spirit, he showed up at the exact right time to be able to witness the Messiah here on earth. He got to hold the tiny form of his body, full of potential and expectation of what he would grow to be and do.

Simeon, who listened to and believed the Holy Spirit (v.25), who was MOVED by Him could claim

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel” (Luke 30:29-32)

He received promises fulfilled, witnessed the climax of many expectant years, met and held the baby Lord Jesus on earth, before he would meet Him again in his life to come, all because he was willing to

be moved.

As I read this to my kids, in a frantic attempt to gain some kind of eternal perspective on my stressful, exhausting week, I realized just how UNwilling I was to

be moved by the Spirit.

Oh, I let other things move me-the laundry piling up, the messes to be cleaned, my “daily schedule” hanging on my fridge, my rigid idea of what all should be accomplished in homeschooling, drop-off and pick-up times at preschool, and the constant “to-do” list running through my mind. But being moved by these things, rarely leaves room for

being moved by the Spirit.

I hate to think of all I miss out on when I am moved by my agenda and not by God’s.

sweet hugs from my kids, laughter and giggles, a ministering conversation with my neighbor, a relationship with someone who does not yet know Christ, silent times of prayer and communion with the Father,

I miss out on meeting Jesus.

in all these things

and the thrill of seeing Him work and show up.

So please, Father, forgive my rigidness,

my deaf ears and blind eyes

and make me sensitive and flexible enough

to be moved

by the Spirit.