How to Have More of the Holy Spirit

holy spirit scriptures

Holy Spirit is available. He’s waiting on us to wake to His Presence, but many of us are so used to doing life on our own, that we forget God has given us power, supernatural power through His Spirit to do this life. His Spirit helps us in many ways. He gives us discernment of what to do, say, and pray.

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. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 

Romans 8: 26-27

Have you found yourself praying words you weren’t sure came from you? I’ve experienced the Spirit giving me the best words to pray that surprised me as they came out of my mouth, but as soon as I prayed them, I experienced God’s amazing peace.

One such prayer was, “Lord, I pray for good test results, but I know this baby is going to be a blessing no matter what!” It was a prayer I found myself saying after two agonizing weeks waiting to receive test results concerning the health of my unborn child. I cannot take credit for that prayer. Peace filled my car and my heart. The test results a few days later did prove a healthy baby, but if they hadn’t, I knew she’d be a blessing.

He helps us pray. He can give us the words to say in a difficult situation and the grace we need when we’re weary or scared.

Awareness of the Holy Spirit

Most of my life I lived without the awareness of Holy Spirit in me. I understood that God loved me and sent Jesus, but this Holy Spirit thing was a little weird. Though I wanted Him, I didn’t allow myself to open up to all Holy Spirit had to offer.

But one day I met a lady who obviously walked with Jesus. She spoke with assurance and strength. She heard God speak. I wanted that, so I prayed for more of Him, and more awareness of His voice.

If you want more of Him, simply pray for an awareness of His Spirit and be aware of your breath. The one simple thing I’ve started doing to release the peace and power of Holy Spirit in my life is breathing Him in.

TAKING SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BREATH FOR GRANTED

A severe case of bronchitis years ago sent me to the emergency room. My mom rushed me to the hospital as my face turned gray from lack of oxygen. It was bad. It made me appreciate breathing.

There are other things I take for granted like running water and electricity. I forget how much I rely on them until we can’t use the water or the electricity goes off. The other day when our water was shut off  I returned to my sink four times only to be reminded there was no water! Our daily life becomes habitual. So, I (kind of) appreciate days that remind me of the blessings I take for granted.

Just like simple things, it’s easy to take the Holy Spirit’s Presence for granted too.

BREATHING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Take a deep breath in, long and deliberate. . . .hold it a few seconds (not until you turn gray please) and let it out s-l-o-w-l-y.

One more time. Fill your lungs. Hold that air in. Let it out.

Not only do we take our breath for granted, we forget to breathe, don’t we? This is true in the physical realm, but it also applies to our spirits. Just as we need to breathe breath into our lungs, we need to breathe in Holy Spirit.

Many of us take Holy Spirit for granted too. This keeps us from living our full potential in Jesus. This lack of breath keeps us spiritually lethargic, not running with full power . . . the life color absent. Our spirits would be gray if we could see them.

But the Holy Spirit is a prayer and a breath away. I love this prayer from Paul:

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you will know Him better”

Ephesians 1:17

 

WORD STUDY

The Greek word for Spirit is Pneuma. Guess what it means. I’ve set you up for it.

Pneuma: Breath.

So, the Holy Spirit is like breath. Paul prayed for the Holy Breath of wisdom and revelation be given so the people would know the Father better. These are the meanings of the words in Greek:

  • wisdom= knowledge of hidden things, learned research, deep understanding.
  • revelation= uncovering, unveiling, disclosure
  • know= this “knowledge” is in contrast to ignorance”

Do you see the richness of these words and their deeper meaning? Paul prayed for knowledge of hidden things. These things are learned by digging below the surface.

He prayed for the people to no longer be ignorant of the Life-Breath in them.

How to Get the Powerful Breath of God

If you desire more Holy Spirit in your life, practice acknowledging the Presence of God every time you breathe. As you do this, you will become more aware of His Presence. Pray these prayers with your breathing:

  • Breathe. . . Holy Breath fill me.
  • Breathe. . . Help me know you better.
  • Breathe. . . Uncover what I can’t see.

As we partner with Holy Spirit, the time together is strengthened by the power of the Word. Below are seven scriptures and some thoughts on each about the ways we can incorporate them into our lives and host more of His Spirit in us.

7 Scriptures About the Holy Spirit

2 CORINTHIANS 1: 21

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The Holy Spirit is a deposit, a guarantee for all who trust Jesus. His presence isn’t only for the super holy ones. But all of us. Pray for the grace to trust Jesus for more awareness of Holy Spirit. Close your eyes and practice breathing Him in and exhaling stress and worries out.

  • 2 CORINTHIANS 3: 17-20

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I love this passage. Circle all the words that bless you. List some of the changes in yourself that you have noticed since walking with Jesus. If you can’t think of anything, ask God to change you and reveal the difference in His time.

holy spirit scriptures

  • GALATIANS 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Which one do you desire or lack the most? Write a prayer thanking Jesus for His Spirit and asking what you need to let go of so He can fill you. So many times we are holding on to unforgiveness or bitterness, pride or disappointment. Once we let go of these burdens, we can experience His love, joy, and peace as well as His other fruits.

Surrender to His Spirit

  • ROMANS 8: 3-4

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

This passage encourages us to try to live surrendered to the Spirit. We simply breathe Him in and breathe us out. Breathe in His wisdom and breathe out strife and worries. Whenever we have a decision to make, or we feel worry threatening our peace, we need to breathe and ask Holy Spirit to take over and fill us.

Holy Spirit Presence

  • ROMANS 8: 5-6

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

This passage holds the secret to peace. Do we have peace in our life? Peace is a prayer away. Pray for Holy Spirit to reveal why Peace is absent. We may need to relinquish a desire to Him that isn’t His best for us.

A Prayer for More Holy Spirit

He is so good to us. Will you pray with me?

“Oh, Lord, breathe in us the Spirit that enables us to know you more – don’t let your people be ignorant. Reveal hidden things to us as we spend time with you and dig into and research your Word. Make us aware. Don’t let us take Breathing for granted. Let us breathe in your peace and joy every day as we trust your goodness. Thank you for giving us yourself – forever. Amen.”

Andy Lee

Andy Lee is an event speaker, blogger, YouTuber, and award winning author of three books, A Mary Like Me: Flawed yet Called; The Book of Ruth Key-Word Bible Study: 31 Days to Hope and Promise,and Radiant Influence: How an ordinary girl changed the world.She passionately teaches how to find the life in God's Word in order to live abundantly. You can catch her life giving message weekly on Instagram and YouTube. She also provides monthly Bible reading plans on her website www.wordsbyandylee.com.

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