5 R.O.I.s of Cultivating A Deeper Relationship with the Holy Spirit

Author’s Note: I have deliberately titled this piece in honor of Pentecost Sunday using business language that most people will readily relate to. For sadly, we live in a world where most people are constantly tuned into what they can benefit from their time and investments in things and people…..there can be no greater investment than that of deepening our spiritual lives!

1. “Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit, he thinks they are foolish”… (1Cor.2:14) I am not even able to recognize (much less, receive) the gifts of the Spirit in the varied forms they come in if I am not in tune with the Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the working arm of God who answers prayers, usually in mysterious ways, I may miss my blessings due to a lack of discernment.
2. “It’s only a person’s own Spirit within him that knows all about him; in the same way, only God’s Spirit knows all about God. We have not received this world’s spirit; instead we have received the Spirit sent by God, so that we may know all that God has given us.” (1 Cor.2:10-12) I cannot learn about God without the Holy Spirit’s help. I cannot understand scripture or see His work clearly in the world around me. Again, I cannot even identify my personal blessings without the Spirit’s help
3. Putting on the armor of God...and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you…(Ephesians 6:10) I can read the word of God or I can have the Holy Spirit inspire me to turn it into a powerful sword/weapon on my tongue that conquers my battles with the enemy.
4. “Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of peace that binds you together” (Ephesians 4:3)  The unity I seek in my family and any community I’m in is a blessing of the Spirit facilitated by peace, an outcome of the Spirit’s presence in me. The more members of any community have the Spirit’s peace, the more unified they are.
5. ….”And I will put my Spirit in you and cause you to follow my laws and be careful to do what I tell you”(Ezek:36:27) Trying to follow God’s laws and personal instructions can be frustrating without the help of the Spirit.

 

Dear Father, In your mercy, fill us with the knowledge of your will, with all the wisdom and understanding that your Spirit gives; so that we may always live as you want and always do what pleases you; so that our lives will produce all kinds of good deeds and we will grow in the knowledge of you, O God. (Paraphrased prayer based on Col.1:11-13)