Monday, January 29, 2018

Life with the HOLY SPIRIT


Life with the HOLY SPIRIT by Kathryn Ruonal

I was driving to church by myself recently and thinking about the Holy Spirit. I love being around people, but I also really enjoy the moments I get to be in the car alone. I am able to have some time alone with God, and I'll take as much of that as I can get. So as I was driving, I told the Holy Spirit how much I enjoy His companionship. I desperately want and appreciate the companionship of the Holy Spirit and need time alone with Him.

We've talked a lot about who the Holy Spirit is and how He helps us. He is there for us in times of need, and He empowers us to love others and bear fruit for His kingdom. But the Holy Spirit wants to be more than our crisis manager and our productivity manager. He wants relationship.

People used to say of Kathryn Kuhlman that the Holy Spirit was her best friend. I remember hearing that and thinking, "Oh, I want that!" And I do. I love that the Holy Spirit is there when we cry out for help, but the relationship is created to be so much more than that. There's another level at which He comforts and encourages as a companion; that's the best part of our relationship with Him. If we aren't cultivating that, we're missing out on the best gift He has given us: Himself.

"A man who has friends must show himself friendly..." (Proverbs 18:24). When people say they don't have any friends, I encourage them to come to a meeting, eat with people, talk with them and invite them over. Be friendly and, and you'll have friends.

The next line in that verse takes it deeper: "...and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." I

love my natural family and my church family. I appreciate my friendships and have a deep sense of loyalty to my friends. However, there is no human being on this planet who completely understands us the way the Holy Spirit does. He's the Spirit of God Himself in the perfect fellowship of the Trinity. He knows and sees every part of you. And He gets it.

In your friendship with the Holy Spirit you never need to try to justify or defend yourself. You don't have to worry that He will think badly of you. He sees you as the apple of His eye. He looks at you in light of the blood of Jesus and smiles. He absolutely delights in your company.

When I first began to understand that the Holy Spirit actually enjoys being with me and is happy to fellowship with me, everything changed. My conversation with Him used to be filled with feelings of condemnation.

As I began to understand the truth of what it means to live by faith in God's forgiveness and righteousness, I was able to boldly approach the Throne of Grace.

The Bible says, "...The righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1), but until you settle in your heart that the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, you won't be able to have that boldness. You won't be able to engage in your relationship with the Holy Spirit at that level of delight and joy because you'll always be wondering if everything is OK between you.

The Holy Spirit is my best friend, and He speaks to me in all sorts of ways. If you're struggling to hear God's voice, you can open your Bible and just start reading until you get something.

The Holy Spirit will speak to you there; just keep reading. He is the Word, and He wants to speak to you.

Write down what He shows you.
Meditate on it for the day.
Talk to someone about it.

His WORD is our daily bread, but very often we just leave it out there on the ground like manna that was provided but never picked up.

As we read His Word, we grow accustomed to His voice because we will be getting to know Him better and better.

The Holy Spirit will speak to you in ways that are unique to you if you listen expectantly. He knows what is coming in your day, in your future, and He has encouragement for you if you take the time to tune in and allow Him to reveal Himself, His truth, His love to you.

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