You know how I mentioned last time what it’s like to experience some aspect of who God is for ourselves? To have read about it in the Bible and known it intellectually, but then to actually experience Him being that to you makes it REAL to you. You understand it better and not just with your mind, but with your heart, with your soul, with your knower. A couple of months ago, I was reading through the book of John during my morning quiet times. In doing so, I came across a truth I know, one I’ve known for a long time, but suddenly, this time when I read it, something struck me about it differently than it had before which then opened up a whole new door of discovery of a precious gift that God has given us.
“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 said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:26-27, NASB
As I read those verses I’d read before, for the first time I heard them spoken not as chastisement for when I have felt troubled or fearful, but as a loving Father who hates to see His child fearful or worried. The more I thought on it, the more amazed I became at just what a gift the Holy Spirit is to us. God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to know we are not alone and that with Him, we have no reason to fear or worry. He wants us to be at peace. Just like when we see our children struggling or frustrated and we want to see them have peace, He wants us to have peace, to be at peace.
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:38-39, NASB
Our source of life, our source of peace lives within us, dwells in us!
I’ve read about the Holy Spirit. I’ve known intellectually the truths the Bible tells about Him. I’ve heard His voice and known He was there even, but lately, those truths have sunk in a little deeper. I’ve known them more profoundly. They’ve become more real to me. I’ve seen what a gift the Holy Spirit is to us. What a precious and thoughtful and loving gift from the Father. He’s given us a Helper and not just one who lives outside of us and speaks to us, but one that lives within us. He’s given us a part of Himself that lives in us to lead us, guide us, teach us, remind us of truth, help us, comfort us, counsel us, to intercede for us, to fight for us. And He’s become so real to me in that way lately. We are not alone. Yes, it’s comforting to know that others struggle and that we are not alone in our struggles, and that is a great and mighty thing in helping us in our struggles but this is so much more than that. It’s infinitely even better, an even more magnificent truth—that we are are never alone, He’s real and He lives in us. Even when we are physically alone, we are not alone. When it feels like no one else is there, we are not alone. We are not empty. We have a gift, a treasure, an added hope. He is with us AND he’s not an unsympathetic helper—He’s not one who hasn’t experienced our struggles. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NASB)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14, NASB
We get to experience the fellowship of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. What a gift! He’s with us always.
“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, NASB
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words; and He who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27, NASB
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hearts, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. “ John 16:13, NASB
Thank You that we get to be vessels for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the gift You’ve given us in the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, we invite You into our lives and our homes, to be free to be at work in our hearts, guiding us, revealing truth to us, and making us holy. Thank You for the beautiful gift of You willingly dwelling in us and for the fellowship we have in You. Thank You!
Holy Spirit
by Francesca Battistelli
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Redeemed Hope Dweller 
I love this song. Thanks for sharing it today.