Holy Spirit helps us in so many ways. Almost twenty years ago, I knelt down next to my bed and prayed for more Holy Spirit in my life.
I prayed for my ears to hear Him as my friend heard Him. If the Lord had more of Himself to give me, more gifts of the Holy Spirit, despite my trepidation, I wanted more. I knew people who walked with confidence and power in their faith. I wanted that, and from what I could tell, their confidence came from intimacy with the Spirit of Jesus.
On that day, as I prayed fervently, I felt my ears begin to burn. I’m not sure it was answer to prayer or the intensity in which I prayed. But I knew this, as soon as I said, “Amen!” and got up from my knees, I noticed a direction from a voice within.
“Go get the clothes out of the dryer.”
I was a little disappointed. Was that my thought or God’s?
He Can Organize Your Day
It wasn’t anything grand, but I took that thought as His order, and that’s how I began my walk with the Holy Spirit. I began living out a daily conversation with God, and no matter how trivial the instruction, I followed through (most of the time). I knew He was in the small details of my life as well as the big if I paid attention.
When I began to do this, I discovered my day was better organized as I listened for cues and nudges from the Divine. Practicing His Presence helped me hear His voice better. Now, I walk with confidence of His leading. But it took daily practice and trust. It took Faith.
He Walks With Us
The other day, I was reading through my One Year Bible, which is a great way to read the Bible through the year because you read a section of the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Anyway, on that day I was finishing 2 Corinthians. I loved Paul’s closing. I know I’ve read it before, but this time it really jumped out to me. Not very many scriptures involve all three persons of God.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14.)
Isn’t it beautiful?
How differently would we walk this journey if we did so fully aware of the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit?
The word “fellowship” was translated from the Greek word Koinonia (koy-nohn-ee’-ah). It means partnership, participation, communion, distribution, and fellowship.
What kind of God is willing to partner with people like us? Messy, confused, fearful, rebellious, ______________ (fill in the blank) people.
He Partners With Us
The God who wants to partner with us is a God who knows we can’t be holy on our own. He knows we need His Spirit to help us, change us, lead us, pray for us, and be with us. So, He made a way. He distributes Himself to those who trust in Jesus. But even as believers, our lack of trust limits His power in and through us.
We can commune with Him.
Partner in the Kingdom work.
Participate with the Divine.
I used to think the Holy Spirit was something scary, but the Holy Spirit isn’t scary. He is simply and profoundly God available 24/7, but don’t take my word for it. Listen to what God’s word says.
What Scripture Teaches About the Holy Spirit
- He frees us from judgment:
Romans 8:1-2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
- The Spirit strengthens us, changes us, and convicts us, but He does not condemn. His conviction is freeing. Have you been convicted by the Spirit lately? Did that conviction change you? I’ve experienced His sweet, freeing conviction. If you experience condemnation, it’s not from Jesus.
2. He teaches us:
John 14:26: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
- Hallelujah! He will teach us and remind us. If your memory is not what it’s been, don’t worry. We have the Holy Spirit to bring scripture to mind and remind us of His directions and promises when we need them the most.
- He prays for us:
Romans 8:26: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
- When we don’t know how to pray, we can stop trying to find the words and worship Him and thank Him for His prayers. He knows exactly what to pray.
4. He is a gift to help us:
Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Repent means to change the way we think. Quite simply, I believe this change is going from self-sufficiency to dependency on our Savior and willingness to trust His goodness. Have you been baptized? Have you experienced a change in your life since then?
Opens Our Minds to the Eternal
- He helps us understand spiritual realities:
1 Corinthians 2: 12-16: What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
- This section of scripture holds so many deep truths, but I love the promise, “The person with the Spirit makes judgements about all things, but such a person is not subject to human judgments . . . we have the mind of Christ.” Beloved, if for no other reason, we need Holy Spirit to have the mind of Christ. I want to think like Jesus thinks.
6. He guarantees our inheritance:
Ephesians 1:13-14: And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a bank guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
- Holy Spirit is a security deposit God places in our hearts. He’s a promise living inside us, and God keeps His promises. Holy Spirit is a taste of what’s to come.
Prayer for More Holy Spirit
I want more revelation of Him, more awareness of His presence, and I want to be more in tune with Holy Spirit. I want that for you too. If you also want more of Him, grab my hands, and let’s pray together. “Jesus, thank you for sending your Spirit! You have not left us alone. Your Spirit teaches, leads, heals, and makes us whole. You even pray for us when we don’t know how to pray and brings to mind scriptures and answers when we cannot remember. Thank you for this gift. Lord, we want more of you. Open our heart receptors, our ears to hear and our mind to know. We want your thoughts and wisdom, peace and grace. Thank you. We walk by faith. We’re listening. Amen.”
More on Holy Spirit:
“We walk by faith. We’re listening.” May that be our prayer daily. Thank you, Andy.
So often our next assignment seems mundane. Thanks for showing how God even cares about laundry.