My life in the Spirit

My own personal lack of talking to the Spirit as of late has caused me to write this post as I'm seeking to re-align my heart and life into the regular practice of talking to God. In many seasons of life things can get busy and we find ourselves not getting the personal prayer time that we used to get. Of course there are definitely times when I need to actually remove certain things from my life that are making me busy. Other times they're things that are seasonal - for example, preparing for a wedding! It's in the midst of this season that I'm reminding myself and hopefully encouraging you of the necessity of talking to the Spirit!

Obviously I know that I need to talk to God, but I'm wanting to remind myself of the simplicity of it. Beginning by asking myself the simple question again: "How do I commune with the Spirit?” How do I take this from being just a cool spiritual phrase and actually put it into practice in my life on a daily basis? It is of utmost importance that I have a plan or beginning point into dialoging with the Spirit because the concept of ‘talking to God’ or ‘communing with the Spirit’ is so simple that it’s actually very easy to overlook and end up rarely doing it.

I don’t just want to have the memory of a life in the spirit, I want o have a fresh relationship with Him everyday. I want my heart to be vibrant and alive and I want to receive my daily bread (Mt. 6:11). Getting a life in God and receiving this daily bread cannot be gained on the run or simply at a once or twice a week church service. It takes an intentional act of my will to sit down and commune with Him on a daily basis. Communing with God is a huge part of fulfilling the greatest commandment to love Him with all of our hearts (Mt. 22:37) Loving Him with all of our hearts is not just shown by our outward actions or abstaining from sin (though those are both important); but just like in any relationship it is the time spent in communion and fellowship that truly builds and strengthens the relationship.

The best definition of fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit is simply talking to the Spirit, or turning our thoughts into prayer. My starting goal with communing with the Spirit is to set aside 3-5 minutes 4-5 times a day that I intentionally and purposefully stop what I’m doing, quiet my thoughts, and focus on the Spirit and the glory of God dwelling within me. We can fellowship with the Spirit no matter where we are or what we’re doing. If you’re in the middle of work or school, or you’re at home with your kids, if you stop and focus your attention on Him and talk to Him; that is fellowshipping with the Spirit. God receives our love in those 3-5 minute times that we give to Him throughout our day and He calls it just as real and sincere as the guy who spends 3-5 hours! Though our love is weak, it is real in His eyes. He calls even our weakest attempts to spend time with Him, the times when we’re most distracted and cannot stay focused; He sees the intention of our heart and calls it real and sincere.

Silence and solitude are imperative for connecting with the Spirit because they create an atmosphere in which the flesh is least likely to be stirred up. “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). When I’m communing with the Spirit it helps me to picture one of two things; I either picture the Holy Spirit burning like a flaming fire within me (Song. 8:6), or I set my mind upon the throne of God in heaven (Rev. 4). I encourage you to go very slow as you pray these 5 phrases. Say one or two sentences, then stop and listen the Spirit, then say several more sentences, then pray or sing softly in the Spirit (tongues) and then stop and listen again. This will be a challenge at first, but it will get easier to focus as the days and weeks go by as you continue to do it 4-5 times.

Below are five practical phrases that Mike Bickle has created to help people pray specific prayers for their own personal heart. I have them found them to be such a helpful prayer tool!

Thank you Holy Spirit – We recognize the Spirit’s presence in us simply by thanking Him for it. Prayer example, “Thank you Holy Spirit, for Your bright presence in me. I love Your presence in me. Apart from dialoguing (interacting/connecting) with You, I can do nothing.”

Reign in my life Holy Spirit – We ask the Indwelling Spirit to rule or lead our life including our circumstances and finances. He will give us strategic alliances, new ideas and opportunities in each area of our life as we ask Him. He will order our steps and open doors for us. Prayer example, “Spirit lead me into my full destiny, grant me divine appointments (opportunities) and show me the way to Your purposes as You lead me away from Satan’s traps (temptations). I love Your leadership. Help me run with You as You establish God’s order in my home, job and ministry.” (Song. 1:4, Mt. 6:13, Lk. 19:17, 27)

Strengthen me Holy Spirit – We thank the Spirit for His strength in our emotions with the power that is already in our spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Prayer example, “Thank you for the presence of Your love, peace, patience, and self-control that is in me” or “Thank You for warring against my flesh and guarding my speech” (Ps. 141:3, Gal. 5:17, 22-23).

Teach me Holy Spirit – We ask Him to teach us the truth about God and His Word and ways. Prayer example, “Holy Spirit, I love Your ways and thoughts. Reveal the knowledge of God and Your Word and ways to me.”

Use me Holy Spirit – We ask the indwelling Spirit to use us more by giving us manifestations of His gifts of power to minister to others. Prayer example, “Thank you Spirit, for releasing Your gifts through me.”

As I'm re-upping in my personal commitment to pray these phrases I invite you to join with me as we pursue our hearts being alive in the Lord! I long to see a change in my mind, my will, and my emotions. I so long to see an even greater change as I fellowship with the ever present unchanging reality of perfection and love on the inside of me; God Himself.

He is alive, He never changes, He is dwelling within me, He is always in a good mood and He longs to speak and have fellowship with me even more than we long to fellowship with Him. What a glorious reality, that God dwells in man (Mt. 13:17).