Holy Spirit - Breath of Godنموونە

EXPERIENCING HIS PRESENCE

In the Old Testament, God’s presence was powerfully manifested through fire, storms, and thunder, especially at the tabernacle and temple. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit arrived with fire and wind, revealing himself as the same God of the Old Testament. Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for a holy God to dwell within humanity. Jesus tore the temple curtain in two and sent the Holy Spirit to create new temples—“your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

But what does it mean to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit? Experiencing the Holy Spirit is like the force of wind, the intimacy of breathing, the gentleness of a dove, the energy of fire, the refreshing quality of water, the power of thunder, and the soothing balm of oil. His presence will always be personal and divine, but how he manifests himself will vary depending on what we need.

As followers of Jesus, we need to cultivate discernment in experiencing the Holy Spirit, learning to distinguish what comes from the Holy Spirit and what does not. In 1 John 4:1, John instructs us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” The Word of God teaches us about the character and person of the Holy Spirit. Equipped with God’s Word, we must discern the Holy Spirit’s voice. For example, he convicts us of sin but does not condemn us; he encourages us but never condones sin. He works through our emotions with the ultimate aim of fostering holiness.

PRACTICING THE PRESENCE EXERCISE

The Holy Spirit desires to fill you, here and now. All you need to do is ask, seek, and practice noticing his presence. “Practicing the presence of God” is a concept attributed to the 17th-century monk Brother Lawrence, who emphasised the importance of being aware of God’s presence in every aspect of life. The apostle Paul calls this “praying at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18–20).

However, before we can pray at all times, we need to start by praying some times. We need to learn how to practice being aware of the presence of God and train our minds to think of the Spirit and then pray in the Spirit.

Today, intentionally practice thinking about God in everything you do. Here are a few examples:

• Pray for the Spirit’s energy and presence as you make your morning coffee.
• Leave the seat next to you empty while commuting and imagine Jesus sitting beside you.
• When you check your emails, imagine one from the Holy Spirit—what might he say to you? How would he encourage or challenge you?
• Look for the presence of God in others, remembering that everyone is made in his image.
• Say grace before meals, thanking God for his provision.
• Picture Jesus next to you as you read the Scriptures. And ask yourself what would he say to you?