I’ll never forget the day my eyes were opened to the Holy Spirit’s personhood.
For years, I had thought of the Holy Spirit as more of a vague force or invisible power – something mystical and hard to grasp. But that all changed when I stumbled upon a verse that brought the Holy Spirit into clear focus.
It was one of those sweltering summer afternoons where the air seemed to hang heavy with heat and humidity.
Beads of sweat formed on my brow as I pored over the well-worn pages of my Bible, searching for answers to the spiritual yearnings that had been weighing on my heart.
And that’s when the words seemed to leap off the page:
“16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth…”
John 14:16-17 (NIV)
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In that moment, a lightbulb went on. The Holy Spirit wasn’t some impersonal force – He was a Person, co-equal with the Father and Son, who longs for intimate fellowship with me.
As that truth sank in, a holy invitation seemed to whisper through my soul: to nurture a deep, abiding friendship with the Holy Spirit Himself.
No longer would I relegate Him to an unseen power, but I would open every area of my heart and life to His leading and guidance.
From that day forward, I began to see the Holy Spirit’s fingerprints everywhere – providing counsel, unleashing spiritual gifts, and empowering me to live out God’s calling in ways I never could have imagined.
It was just the beginning of an adventure into the Spirit-filled life that God had in store.
In this post, I’ll explore practical ways you too can nurture friendship with the Holy Spirit and experience His transforming work in your life.
Let’s get started!
Developing Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
The first step in developing genuine fellowship with the Holy Spirit is through consistent spiritual practices.
- Set aside time each day to talk to the Holy Spirit in prayer.
- Worship Him by singing spiritual songs.
- Study and meditate on Scripture.
- Expectantly wait for the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
Don’t reserve your spiritual activities only for church services or “special” times with God.
Friendship with the Holy Spirit flows out of ongoing conversations and interactions with Him throughout your day.
“Fellowship with the Holy Spirit includes talking to Him, praying, worshipping, and reading Scripture. Invite the Holy Spirit into your daily life and situations.”
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the Bible passages you’re reading. Share what’s happening in your day and ask for His guidance when making decisions.
Pause during your work day and invite Him into what you’re doing. The Holy Spirit wants to be involved in every aspect of your life, not just the “spiritual” parts!
As you develop fellowship with the Holy Spirit, you’ll experience His help in many practical ways:
- The Holy Spirit will help you in prayer, giving you discernment for what to pray about and how to pray effectively.
- He will give you fresh revelation as you study the Bible, teaching you and making the Word come alive.
- You’ll notice increased boldness and clarity in sharing your faith and talking with others about Jesus.
- The Holy Spirit will bring wisdom and insight into the decisions you face.
- He will awaken spiritual gifts within you and empower you to use those gifts to bless others.
Instead of focusing on the Holy Spirit’s power or gifts, seek a genuine relationship with Him. Get to know the Holy Spirit as a Person. Enjoy his companionship!
Obedience Leads to True Friendship
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is wonderful. Jesus said:
“You are my friends if you do what I command.”
John 15:14 (NIV)
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Friendship with the Holy Spirit requires obedience.
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit develops as you follow His promptings and do what He asks of you.
He will often lead you to take steps of faith and obedience that are uncomfortable to your flesh, but necessary for your spiritual growth.
“Friendship involves doing what the Holy Spirit says, not just having fellowship with Him.”
For instance, the Holy Spirit may prompt you to:
- forgive someone who hurt you deeply,
- sacrifice your financial resources to give to others in need,
- confront a friend about their harmful behavior,
- or devote more time to prayer and Bible study.
Obedience in the small things prepares you for greater Kingdom responsibility. You build trust with the Holy Spirit by following his instructions one step at a time.
Don’t view God’s commands as restricting your freedom. The Holy Spirit wants to lead you into the abundant life Jesus promised!
As you obey Him, you’ll experience more joy, peace, and spiritual fruit in your life.
It’s important to understand that the Holy Spirit convicts believers of sin, not to condemn but to restore.
When you mess up and fall short, don’t avoid prayer because of guilt. Run to the Holy Spirit and receive His forgiveness!
He is faithful, loving, and present even when you stumble.
Be Continuously Filled with the Holy Spirit
Many Christians understand the need to be “filled with the Spirit,” but they view it as a one-time experience.
Scripture commands us to be filled continually:
“Don’t get drunk with wine, because it makes you lose control. Instead, keep on being filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18 (CJB)
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Being filled with the Holy Spirit is an ongoing process as we yield more and more of our lives to Him each day.
It’s not about earning God’s favor through spiritual accomplishments. Your part is to surrender; the Holy Spirit’s part is to empower you.
We “leak” when we allow sin or distractions to creep back in. But as you get your heart right through repentance and refocus on Christ, you create space for the Holy Spirit to fill you again and again.
Stay sensitive to grieving or quenching of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) and quickly make it right.
“Do not quench the Spirit.”
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One key is fixing your eyes on Jesus through worship, prayer, and meditating on Scripture.
The Holy Spirit’s joy is to glorify Jesus (John 16:14), so when your focus is on Christ you make room for Him to move and work in you.
Become More Christ-like
The primary role of the Holy Spirit is to transform us into the image of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV).
“17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
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Our spiritual maturity can be measured by how much we demonstrate the character of Christ through the fruit of the Spirit:
“22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
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Do people experience the Father’s love and comfort when they’re around you? Does your life exhibit the joy, peace, and kindness of Jesus? This is far more important than operating in spiritual gifts.
Gifts without character breed pride and chaos in the church. God desires maturity first.
As you behold Christ through the Spirit and allow His sanctifying work in your heart, you’ll begin to reflect the Lord’s glory to those around you.
Don’t be discouraged if you still struggle with sinful habits and thought patterns. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is relentlessly faithful to complete His work making you like Christ (Philippians 1:6). Walk with Him step-by-step in obedience and humility.
Pray for A Deeper Friendship
If you find yourself stuck in a rut spiritually, ask the Lord to rekindle your first love and give you a deeper intimacy with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks (Revelation 3:20). He is ready to come in and dine with you!
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
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Pray for greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s nudges and promptings. Ask Him to awaken spiritual hunger within you and give you discernment to recognize His voice.
As you surrender control of areas you’ve held back, your fellowship with the Holy Spirit will grow.
Sometimes we limit what the Holy Spirit can do because of our small view of God. Listen to the Spirit’s urging to take courageous steps of faith.
As you follow His leading, you’ll experience more of His power working through your life.
The Holy Spirit wants to speak words of life and comfort to you personally. Don’t let condemning thoughts from the enemy distract you.
The Spirit convicts but does not condemn. Receive His forgiveness afresh today!
Key Takeaways: How to Befriend the Holy Spirit
- The Holy Spirit is a Person who wants an intimate fellowship with you. Set aside quiet time to communicate and interact with Him daily.
- Obey the Spirit’s promptings to grow in friendship with Him. His instructions will lead to spiritual breakthroughs and fruitfulness.
- Being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing process as you continually surrender more of yourself.
- The primary goal of the Holy Spirit is to conform you to Christ’s image. Cooperate with His transforming work.
- Ask the Lord for heightened sensitivity to the Spirit. Follow Him into new adventures of faith.
No matter how long you’ve been a Christian, you can always go deeper in your relationship with the Holy Spirit! He holds so much more for you.
Let Him awaken spiritual hunger in you. Open your whole life to friendship with Him today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know when the Holy Spirit is speaking to me?
A. The Spirit’s voice lines up with the Word of God. Pay attention to promptings that align with Scripture. The Spirit also brings conviction of sin and inner peace.
Q. Is it really possible to have a friendship with the Holy Spirit?
A. Absolutely! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ who lives in all believers (Romans 8:9-11). Just as we develop a relationship with the Father and the Son, we should have intimacy with the Spirit.
Q. I don’t sense the Holy Spirit’s presence like others do. Does this mean something is wrong with me?
A. No, some people are naturally more emotionally expressive in their faith than others based on personality and other factors. But the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer. Keep seeking Him through spiritual practices and obedience.
Q. How can I become better friends with the Holy Spirit?
A. Set aside regular one-on-one time to talk with Him. Study Scripture while listening for His insights. Obey promptings and follow His leadership. Ask the Spirit to give you the hunger for a deeper relationship.
Q. Is the Holy Spirit a person like Jesus?
A. Yes, the Holy Spirit is one of the three Persons of the Trinity, just as Jesus and the Father are. He has emotions, intellect, and a will. He communicates, fellowships with us, and does miracles, just as Jesus did on earth.
I hope these practical tips have shown you that friendship with the Holy Spirit is for every Christian. May God bless you as you open your life more to Him in the days ahead!
