This month, I would like to start by asking you the question: How do you view God? Do you see him as aloof? Distant? Unfair?
Take the time to think about your answer and have a moment of honest self-reflection. Your answer to this question will determine your interactions and relationship with God. AW Tozer in ‘Knowledge of the Holy’ writes (emphasis mine): “Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.”
In a similar vein, we could ask ourselves this of the Holy Spirit. How do you view Him? Who is He? Does He come at random and make us feel good? Is He just about distributing gifts? What we truly believe about the Holy Spirit can help or hinder our connection to Him. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman – He will not come where He is not wanted and so we can unintentionally quench Him through lack of understanding and fear.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:11 (NLT) “if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?” And as Tozer put it, the “Holy Spirit is the Father’s promise, given to us as the promised gift. Just as a man promises his son a bicycle for Christmas and the boy comes back and reminds the father. Nobody is ever afraid of a promise of a father who loves him.”
My encouragement is if you aren’t sure about the Holy Spirit, get into the word, and see what you find – the results could be transformative!