She spoke of hearing from God with an assurance I did not have.

There was something different about her. Confidence. Peace. Wisdom.

And I wanted it.

Looking back, I had experienced such grace before, but I didn’t recognize that voice as the Holy Spirit of Jesus inside me–I just thought it was me. But I didn’t walk in the power and authority she did, and I wanted it. So I prayed. I prayed for more of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for more of Jesus. I prayed for my ears to be opened, and my mind opened to His voice.

As I prayed my ears began to burn. There was no earthquake, no loud voice from heaven, but my ears got hot! I waited in silence, waiting to receive something amazing, and then a thought wafted through my mind. I knew it was my first assignment, but it wasn’t as thrilling as I’d planned.

Get up and go get the clothes out of the dryer. . . 

Really? That was it?

Get up and go get the clothes out of the dryer . . .

So, I went down to the basement and got the clothes.

Now go into the kitchen and start supper. 

Okay. . . .

They were simple thoughts. One might argue that these instructions were not from God; they were mundane. But I prayed for ears to hear. So, I began treating these daily directions as Holy Spirit led. It was almost as if He was teaching me to obey Him in the little things before I could move onto bigger assignments. And I took every step and followed prompting by faith because though I was just learning about this Holy Spirit stuff, and I was a little unsure of it, I did know one thing:

I knew God blesses faith.

It’s been fifteen years since that afternoon on my knees. A lot of life and death has happened. Much laughter and buckets of tears. I’ve washed hundreds of loads of laundry, cooked too many suppers to count, enjoyed serving on staff of a church and written two books. I’ve sat by my sister as cancer took her life, and I’ve watched my daughter get married.

There were days when I knew beyond knowing that the Holy Spirit was leading. But there were days when my own voice muddled the reception, and it wasn’t as clear. Some weeks, He just seemed MIA. But with each day I’ve become more and more convinced that the Holy Spirit is our proof of Jesus. When I pray a prayer that instantly speaks into a person’s soul, and I know those words were not from my brain, I know the Holy Spirit is at work.

When I hear someone else praying for God to reveal why they are struggling, and a word comes to my mind that reveals the root of the problem, I know the Holy Spirit is speaking.

And when I’m in the right place at just the right time to run into someone I’ve been praying to see, I know the Spirit is leading.

I haven’t studied world religions, but I’m pretty sure that not one promises a big “G” god who desires relationship with his creation and gifts his Spirit to those who believe. But His gift is given for more than our today. His gift is given for our tomorrow.

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Cor. 5:5) [today’s Bite of Bread]

 

The words I underlined were used to translate this one Greek word:

Arrabon from the Hebrew word erabon. Deposit, down payment, security, pledge. The word was used of honest money paid out for a commodity in advance, as part of the price of purchase which legally secured one’s claim to that item. . . . In the NT used of the Holy Spirit as the arrabon of redemption for believers . . . . The Holy Spirit applies redemption and by His presence guarantees the delivery of final payment . . . the payment is nothing else than the redemption of the body and the glorification at the resurrection.”

I’ve only considered what the Holy Spirit can do for me while on this earth. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and self-control. He can help me pray. He directs my day.

But the fruits of the Spirit, wisdom in prayer and counsel, and divine direction are simply the froth on top of the most amazing latte, the foam at the edge of an ocean wave, the icing on the cake.

Theses are the bonus benefits that come with His Presence. But He is so much more.

The gift of the Holy Spirit proves the promise that we are God’s and He is bringing us home. 

How do we get the Holy Spirit? Only by believing in Jesus. 

Pray with me?

“Dear God, thank you for Jesus and your amazing plan of redemption. The payment you’ve paid was great. Not only did you give us your Son, you’ve given us your Spirit. Open our ears to your voice. Tune us into your Presence. May we become more and more aware of your Spirit in us and walk by faith even when your guidance deals with the mundane. And thank you for this living, breathing Promise that assures us we will live forever with you. Amen.”

 

Join the conversation: On a scale from 1-10, how comfortable are you with the Holy Spirit?

 

Jesus loves you,