the holy spirit shouldnt be a thing you learn about at 18
a brief back story — ive grown up in a christian home. my family has gone to church since i was a baby and i was in private school from 6th grade to senior year. that means ive had bible classes and chapels every week, all school year along with going to church every sunday since i could remember. im super thankful for growing up in a christian household and giving me a foundation to grow my relationship with the lord and also being placed in a school with a christian community. and im not looking down on my church, my family, or any of my schools. but here is just the soild truth. growing up ive never learned or really heard about holy spirit. in my family it was never brought up, in school i only learned about the trinity (father, son, holy spirit) and mainly we just went over stories in the bible, and at church holy spirit never got brought up enough for me to learn about him or even grasp an understanding of who this was. the holy spirit was neglected and something “radical” to talk about. with bethel on the rise and people getting weirded out about some jesus freaks calling upon the spirit, i feel that churches and private schools stayed away from making any statements or teachings about the holy spirit in fear that people would turn away or get freaked. we’ve tucked the holy spirit away besides stepping into a relationship.
the holy spirit was always there with me and guiding me without even me realizing it. but i had no idea why the spirit was there or what he could do. about a year ago i got to experience holy spirit. a moment like no other. a completeness of joy and peace. where i was astonished and experienced the lord in a whole new way. i was shocked at first that in all my life in church and in private schools that i had never heard of the holy spirit like this before. the holy spirit wasnt just apart of the trinity but a gift that the lord had sent to us when jesus went up to heaven so we would have dependency on him. the lord is so concerned with how you are feeling to be whole and seen that he sent you with his spirit. he’d given me visions to lift me up and encouarge me to pursue him more.
the holy spirit didnt just come to give gifts and to empower the church but he’s come to be in friendship with us. and that is the best part. the pressure is off of us. holy spirit never leaves us or gets exhausted with us. we are atmosphere changers without “trying hard enough” because we simply have the holy spirit living inside us. inviting the holy spirit in changes moods and perspectives. the holy spirit calms and soothes but also gives so much passion and purpose.
this is what i wish i knew sooner. this is what should be taught to kiddos. (yes, elementary schoolers — picture teaching your 2nd grader how to talk to the holy spirit and watching them experience the lord in a new way, calling on him in times of need and worry). i wish i knew where the holy spirit was. i wish i knew how to walk with him and how to access him. i wish i was taught that the holy spirit is my best friend and not something to be afriad of because of controversy. i wish i had accepted this invitation sooner. i wish i would have grown up with the holy spirit being recognized as my friend. i wish i was taught this before age 18.
so this is what im walking through right now — talking to the holy spirit like a best friend. sharing my day. the good bad ugly moments. recognizing the moments where i light up inside or get really pumped up is the holy spirit. and asking holy spirit where are you in this moment. or where did i see you today. the unexplainable joy i felt. the unseen confidence i have now. asking how much i talk to him and whats it like to sit with him and what does he sound like. its beautiful. its holy spirit and i adventuring together. its a relationship that will continue to grow and get stronger day by day.
i know this is new and different. but its also really important. this is the change that is being lifted up back home. the holy spirit is being recognized and invited in. this is people getting on their knees for the lord again. giving up control and pride and surrendering. eyes being opened. people being healed. and empowering the church. because stuff like that still happens today. the holy spirit isn’t just a bible time thing. it wasn’t just present for the apostles. this is the new church. this is my generation empowering each other to step into leadership and discipleship and boldness. this is the church being present and unafriad of what the world around them is. because we are not supposed to be of this world. and that my friends is the holy spirit.
