Romans 8:5-6
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Our relationship with the Holy Spirit is such a powerful gift. The Holy Spirit plays many crucial roles in our faith. To name a few, he is our helper, counselor, teacher, intercessor, empowerer, guide, truth teller, and giver of strength. The Holy Spirit is God’s best resource for us. When we invite the presence of the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives, we are allowing ourselves to be transformed from our fleshly sin nature to holiness and righteousness.
There is nothing more precious than being intimate with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guide. John 16:13 says, “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.” We need the wisdom and counsel of the Holy Spirit to discern what is the perfect will of God. The Holy Spirit reveals the heart of the Father to us so we can walk out God’s plans and purposes for our lives. He shows us how to thrive in all circumstances.
We are created to have a personal interactive relationship with God. Most of us are excellent “monologue-ers” in prayer. But the Holy Spirit desires to engage with us. He loves when we create space to listen and focus on what he’s saying and how he’s moving. In this posture we receive Kingdom strategies, transformation, solutions to problems, and wise counsel. Additionally, this is where we learn boldness and restraint, receive joy in trials, and strength where we are weak. There are many ways God communicates with us and the Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to recognize when he is speaking. When that scripture pops off the page and suddenly you have a deeper understanding than before, when you are filled with compassion to pray for someone, or when you are deeply moved in worship, those are moments where the Holy Spirit is operating in our lives. He helps us die to our flesh and become more like him.
The Holy Spirit is powerful. When we encounter the power of the Holy Spirit, we can’t help but be transformed. He puts a hunger in our hearts for the things of God. The Holy Spirit guides us and teaches us how to live and how to love like God does. When we spend time with the Holy Spirit, there is evidence of it in our lives. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Spending time with the Holy Spirit helps us to take our eyes off of earthly things and helps us to align our mindsets and desires with God’s.
Not only does he do transformative work in our hearts, but he also does it through us. He fills us with power to help demonstrate the Kingdom of God to the world around us. Jesus told us that those who believe in him would do the things he did and greater things. The Holy Spirit empowers us as we partner with him to heal the sick, cast out demons, and set people free. Partnering with the Holy Spirit is always an adventure!
As we fast, let us set aside any unnecessary distractions and create space for the presence of the Holy Spirit. Take time today to worship. Then, be quiet and listen for how the Holy Spirit wants to interact with you. Let him speak to your heart, flush out things that are not serving you well, and replace them with things that are of eternal value. Allow him to show you his plans, his desires. Partner with him as he shows you the cries of his heart.
Listening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, I invite your presence into my life today. What do you want to teach me today? What do you want me to surrender to you? What is on your heart? How do you want me to act upon what you’re showing me? Write down what you hear.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank you for the powerful and transformative role you play in my life. I give you permission to fill me afresh. I invite you to move in my life. I submit myself to you, body, mind, and spirit. I ask you to mold me, teach me, guide me, and strengthen me. Help me make time to listen and hear what is on your heart. Fine tune my ear to the currencies of your voice. Give me boldness, power, and authority to act when you give me instruction. I am a willing vessel who desires to partner with you and be used by you. Have your way in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Resource: Bible Verses on the Presence of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides us.
John 16:13
“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.”
The Holy Spirit teaches us.
John 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding.
Isaiah 11:2
“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
The Holy Spirit strengthens us.
Ephesians 3:15-16
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”
The Holy Spirit makes us bold.
Acts 4:31
“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
Romans 8:26-27
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Holy Spirit fills us with good fruit.
Galatians 5:22-24
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
The Holy Spirit fills us with power.
Acts 1:8
“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.”
Galatians 5:16-17
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
Worship Song:The Dove (Feat. Kari Jobe) // The Belonging Co