Wondering how to have a spirit-filled birth?

Be a Christian!

There is a lot of talk in some Christian circles today about having a “spirit-filled” birth. Usually, the context is something like this: “She had a really peaceful labor and there were no complications! It was so spirit-filled!” But here’s the reality: That birth experience was certainly a blessing! But having a spirit-filled birth is something that happens for ALL Christian women, because ALL Christian women are permanently filled with the Holy Spirit upon their repentance and belief in Jesus. Claiming that only the easier or more peaceful experiences are related to the Holy Spirit is perpetuating a false, prosperity gospel narrative that is incredibly damaging to all believers and is unbiblical.

Thankfully, our feelings and experiences don’t dictate God’s Truth or His promises. If your heart is only chasing after experiences and your feelings are the barometer of what is a “spirit-filled” moment, you are seeking after your own flesh and making these things an idol. I speak from firsthand experience. So, whether you have a homebirth with twinkle lights in a tub or a cesarean with bright lights on a hard table in the OR, or anything in between—if you are a Christian woman, it will be a spirit-filled birth 🙏

Now let’s take a few moments to look at some common myths and truths when it comes to the Holy Spirit:

Myth # 1: You need to invite the Holy Spirit into places.
Truth #1: The Holy Spirit is always with the believer and will never leave a true believer. God has promised eternal life to all who believe in Christ, and as a guarantee that He will keep His promise, He has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer until the day of redemption. You do not need to invite Him into places, and He doesn’t need your permission to do His work. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” -John 14:6. “Beginning on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began permanently indwelling believers (Acts 2). The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s promise to always be with us and never forsake us.” (gotquestions.org)

Myth #2: The Holy Spirit isn’t always present if I don’t feel Him or if I don’t have an emotional experience.
Truth #2: The only times the New Testament speaks of a quenching of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is due to our own unrepentant sin. But that doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit leaves us!! And contrary to popular opinion, you don’t need to have an emotional experience or goosebumps to know the Holy Spirit is working in your life. “Sin always has consequences in our relationship with God. While our relationship with God is secure in Christ, unconfessed sin in our lives can hinder our fellowship with God and effectively quench the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives. That is why it is so important to confess our sins because God is ‘faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.’” (gotquestions.org)

Myth #3: The more worship music you play during labor or the more Bible verses on birth affirmation cards, the more the Holy Spirit is there.
Truth #3: Your birth isn’t more or less holy or “spirit-filled” based on what is in the room you give birth in. If you are a Christian, the Holy Spirit is always present. If these things help you to focus on Christ more during your birth, that’s wonderful! But if it doesn’t work out for you to have these things present at your birth, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t a “spirit-filled” birth.

Myth #4: The Holy Spirit isn’t present at traumatic births or births where things don’t go according to plan, just calm births with twinkle lights and worship music.
Truth #4: When Christians only apply the term “spirit-filled” to births that have a certain ambiance or outcome, they are perpetuating a false, prosperity gospel narrative that the Holy Spirit isn’t with women who have difficult birth experiences. This narrative is extremely damaging to women and is unbiblical. We can trust in the Lord and believe He is good and sovereign over our birth experiences, regardless of the outcomes.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” -John 16:13-14

“The Holy Spirit is not a sensationalist. He has no desire to put on a show or be center stage. He puts the spotlight on Jesus Christ alone.” -Costi Hinn

Let’s wrap it up: If you are a Christian, you are guaranteed to have a “spirit-filled” birth because as 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and nothing can change that. Praise God that regardless of our feelings or outcomes, the Holy Spirit is always with us.