Our search for God often begins with a crisis. We encounter something that we don’t have the resources or power to handle. For me, it was my child’s diagnosis of leukemia. I knew then that, if I didn’t find a living God, I would never survive this. My search brought me to the realization that I needed the Holy Spirit.
This was the reason Nancy was visiting me. She now read more words from Jesus:
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks, finds…Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? (Luke 11:10-13)
When Nancy finished, she asked if I was ready to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit: “This is what the Father promised to those who believe,” she said.
For weeks I’d been pouring over Scriptures like Acts 2:38, 39. I’d come to the decision that the Holy Spirit was not just for people at that time, but for all who were far off—and that included me. “Yes, I am ready,” I answered.
However, my teeth were chattering, my insides trembling. I’d heard so many stories about what might happen when the Holy Spirit comes. People fall down, they pray in a strange way, they roll all over. I’d heard about the Holy Rollers growing up; I didn’t want to be like them. I didn’t want to lose control!
Nancy reassured me that God does not want his people to be lacking in any gift and that our spirit is not dumb; it is capable of speaking—even in an unfamiliar way: “Just let go. Surrender yourself to God, Judy. You can trust Him.”
Feeling frightened and self-conscious, I went into my bedroom to pray alone. Nancy waited in the living room. Using the steps of faith that Nancy had taught me, I knelt beside my bed and asked God to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Yet I felt nothing. I tried to let my mouth pray, but nothing seemed to happen.
I returned to Nancy. She said, “Judy where is the Holy Spirit?
“In me,” I answered.
“Why?” she pressed.
“Because I asked, and He simply cannot lie.”
“Good Judy, now let’s pray in tongues together!”
Nancy began to pray fluently in another language, a language I’d never heard. I tried to let go of my tongue and give it free reign to make whatever sounds that came, while keeping my mind centered on God and His trustworthiness—it is impossible for God to lie.
I reminded myself of the promise, “these signs will accompany those who have believed. . . they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). I had believed! I can speak in a new tongue.
I felt very foolish making these strange sounds, but after a few moments Nancy said, “That’s it! Listen, you are praying exactly the same sound, syllable for syllable, as I am! Now I know why God changed my prayer language this morning; it was for you.”
My heart filled with joy! An inner witness of God’s presence welled up within in my spirit. For the first time in my life, I knew Jesus Christ was alive and lived within me—and I hadn’t rolled over!
…you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:15,16)
I’d felt afraid of God for so many years. Now my suffering and pain had brought me to the place where I came to Him with all my heart. As a result, He became real to me; His presence dwelt within. I knew that I belonged to Him and I was His child, just as the Scriptures promise. What a place to be in! Jesus and the events at Pentecost were no longer just historical events.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the spirit of truth . . . I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you . . . and I will disclose Myself to him (John 14:16-17).
In Christianity, we have something more than a code of ethics, we can have direct, spiritual experiences with a living God, but it depends upon the presence of the Holy Spirit. According to Jesus, the Father wants to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
Question: Do you know this witness of the Holy Spirit within you? Have you asked the Father for the Holy Spirit? If yes, just drop into your heart and let him touch you now with his peace.