Heartbeatنموونە

For many people, the Holy Spirit is confusing. But the Holy Spirit is less strange, mystical, and awkward than many think or have experienced. As followers of Jesus, partnering with the Holy Spirit should grow to be more common and increasingly effortless. 

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he said these words, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)” Notice that Jesus didn’t warn that the Holy Spirit would come to bring division, chaos, emotionalism or weirdness. The Holy Spirit would come to bring... power. Not just power to greedily acquire, but power with which to do something meaningful; power to witness and power to reflect God’s amazing attributes. 

The Holy Spirit has come and is available to each of us. The results of the filling of the Holy Spirit might have less to do with your Sunday church experience than you thought before. Your greatest representation of the power of the Holy Spirit might not be when you are surrounded by other Christians; they look, talk and act just like you. However, as God’s spirit works in your life, it will be on display, to its greatest degree, in the chaos of our world. That’s where peace really shines, amidst chaos. 

Ephesians 5:18 encourages us to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit, meaning, we should be in constant saturation by the Holy Spirit. This takes intentionality. Your playlist doesn’t miraculously produce music. No, you notice the need for songs and you create time to populate your playlist with your favorite songs. Take time today to invite the Holy Spirit into your life to a greater degree. 

Ask God to meet you during your time of prayer. Take time to listen to the Holy Spirit as you read your Bible today and have a pen or highlighter ready to underline or highlight the things that stick out to you as you read. Remember, prayer is a conversation so expect the Holy Spirit to speak. And listen.