Stillness with the Holy Spirit
Stillness with the Holy Spirit (The Recipe for Stillness - Week 1)
Do you struggle with staying focused and being still during your quiet time with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit?
I do. Surely most of us find it difficult to be completely attentive to God without any other thoughts surfacing in our minds. It is rather normal. You are in no way failing at what is called quiet time with God or stillness with God if your mind wanders. Your efforts mean as much as your success to God in this endeavor. I have some very good news! After a chat with God about this challenge, I received an answer to help us with staying still. God gave me a recipe for stillness for us to follow.
It all started with my favorite devotional Jesus Calling recently. In the June 1st devotional, Jesus states:
“Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured.”
I stayed fixed on this statement for a few moments. Then I simply asked God, “How do I let the Holy Spirit guide me?” We absolutely desire and often pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How do we let (allow) Him to guide us?
A very loving answer came that involves stillness with God. A recurring theme of Jesus Calling is the need for us to spend time alone with Jesus. (When I say God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, it refers to any of them. They are all one. Just as you may be three names with different roles, such as woman, daughter and mother. If you are not a mother you may be called a human being, a woman and a daughter.)
Here is a prime example of this theme:
June 15, Jesus Calling
WHEN YOU APPROACH ME in stillness and trust, you are strengthened. You need a buffer zone of silence around you in order to focus on things that are unseen. Since I am invisible, you must not let your senses dominate your thinking. The curse of this age is overstimulation of the senses, which blocks out awareness of the unseen world.
The tangible world still reflects My Glory to those who have eyes that see and ears that hear. Spending time alone with Me is the best way to develop seeing eyes and hearing ears. The goal is to be aware of unseen things that you live out your life in the visible world.
God wants us to spend quiet, alone time with Him. We can be still with God. It is possible. I did not say that our concentration will be only on Him with no other thoughts passing through our minds. However, we can be still with God even with other thoughts.
Now when it comes to earthly distractions, that we can tame. It may be more of a struggle for some than others. It is possible to eliminate most of your physical distractions if you want to make every effort in stillness. The Recipe for Stillness will show you exactly how to create an atmosphere of quiet with the Holy Spirit.
Let’s get started sisters! There are several steps that are not complicated in the least. We will go over them in detail to learn the benefits of each one according to God. In Part 2 of the study, God will give us further suggestions for being still with the Holy Spirit.
Step 1.
Consider using the recipe for stillness in the morning.
It does not have to be early morning. I do a few physical things to wake up first, like cleaning. Lol. My devotional time normally comes before the stillness time also. Find what works best for you. A time of stillness with the Holy Spirit in the morning sets up your day well.
Step 2.
Create a quiet and peaceful physical atmosphere.
Find an environment free of earthly distractions. It can be a quiet room, a peaceful spot outside or sit in your car in the driveway if necessary. We are trying to silence our visual and hearing senses. So also eliminate from your sight the tv (of course), phone (except for when we use music in the next step), iPads, tablets, books, writing paper, pens and anything that you see that will take your mind off of the Holy Spirit. We are trying to peek into our spiritual world briefly and tune out the physical one.
Step 3.
Prepare an atmosphere of worship.
Come before His presence with singing. – Psalm 100:2
Listen and sing songs of invitation and adoration to the Holy Spirit. I have collected several songs that are directed specifically to the Holy Spirit. You will find the list at the end. Feel free to choose any songs that offer God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit your love, reverence and gratitude. Raise your hands to heaven or open your arms as a gesture of reception of the Holy Spirit. Sing along please. I don’t like the sound of my singing voice, but I try to sing often anyway. Using your voice in song helps you stay fixated on worship to God. Music and singing are a prelude to an invitation and prayer to the Holy Spirit.
Step 4.
Look at your body language when approaching the Holy Spirit.
After you have listened and worshiped in songs, the time has come for an invitation to the Holy Spirit. You are asking Him for His presence. Give Him your presence physically in addition to mentally. King Solomon kneeled with his hands spread to heaven in front of all of Israel during his prayer of dedication in 1 Kings. Think about how you may want to give your reverence to the Holy Spirit. Try different things that put your body in a position of admiration and respect to your Creator (God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.)
When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. 1 Kings 8:54
Meaning of invitation.
Let’s talk about the meaning of an invitation for the Holy Spirit to come into our atmosphere.
We are going to invite Him into our space and time in words. Most invitations in this modern world are social. We invite friends and family to join us for dinner at a restaurant or to our home. We invite people to go shopping with us, go exercise with us, go to church with us… The majority of invitations we extend to others give the recipient some pleasure (like dining, a party, an event or an activity).
We are inviting the Holy Spirit to be with us on earth. Our hearts want Him ever so close to comfort, counsel, and guide us. Requesting His presence is honorable. This request is no plea for help. It is simply a call forth of His presence. It is a bidding of the Holy Spirit to come close to us. He is close; however, the invitation is a tender admission of love to Him. Since most invitations give pleasure to the receiver, we will offer Him a lovely invitation with that in mind.
Step 5.
Invite the Holy Spirit into your space.
Use these words that God gave me or write your own sweet words. Just be sure to keep it as a gracious invitation only, no prayers quite yet please.
Sweet Holy Spirit,
I invite you into my space and my time right now.
I will listen for your wisdom and have joy in your being.
My heart is delighted to be with you.
I will make every effort to hear you, feel you, praise you, and rest in you.
My time with you is most valuable for my day and what you have prepared for me.
I give you my atmosphere and my attention.
I will not feel hurried for I cherish this time together.
This invitation is filled with my love for you.
Step 6.
Pray to the Holy Spirit.
Our prayer will be focused only on our time together with Him. Use the following prayer or write your own prayer speaking only about your time with Him.
Dear Holy Spirit,
Let me let you, the Holy Spirit, guide me step by step. Come to me please. Surround me with your presence. Make known to me your residency, so your counsel will be clear. Make your guidance distinct to me, unmistakably you. And I will listen. I will learn. I will love. I will sing. I will follow. I will accept. I will wait.
Step 7.
Thank Him for arriving.
After your invitation and prayer, thank the Holy Spirit for coming. You invited Him; He has arrived! Treat Him as kind as you would a very welcomed guest in your home. Show your appreciation for His appearance.
Step 8.
Wait.
Psalm 130:5
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
“This verse expresses the intenseness of the author’s mind, the earnest desires of his heart after God and his affection for Him.”– John Gill
May we wait with the attitude of this author.
Wait with intensity and concentration of your mind.
Wait with sincere desire of your heart after God.
Wait with deep affection for the Holy Spirit.
Your wandering mind.
Don’t let wandering thoughts disturb you in the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is normal. It happens. Your mind is a complex part of you, given abilities by your Creator to do so much at once. So, appreciate your brain and all its power and capabilities. When your mind takes thoughts despite your effort to focus, it is okay ladies. You have not failed to be in the Holy Spirit’s presence. You are still there.
Feeling nothing.
You wait quietly trying not to speak or drift from your focus. You wait. You may not feel anything or hear anything. You may even think you are wasting your time. Well, Satan has got you where he wants you if these thoughts are taking over. Satan does not want you to spend any time with the Holy Spirit, much less in quiet and stillness. Satan does not even want you to believe in the Holy Spirit. Don’t think he will not put up a fight during this time.
The good news is you do not have to hear or feel anything to be in the presence of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirt. You are honoring God’s Word. Feel satisfied in giving the Holy Spirit your attention. You may feel or hear from Him at times, or maybe not. But you are positively, undoubtedly in His presence! Wow!
We now have a recipe for stillness! Please use the recipe and find delight knowing that the Holy Spirit is with you.
You will be spending time in the presence of the Holy Spirit –
our Helper,
our Comforter,
our Advocate,
our Intercessor,
our Counselor,
our Strengthener,
and our Standby.
But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
John 14:26 AMP
Songs of invitation to the Holy Spirit: (find the songs on Apple music, YouTube…)
Holy Spirit - Francesca Battistelli, Jesus Culture, and Heavens Mutambria & Amplified Praise (just to name a few artists that sing this awesome song.)
Breathe on Us - Kari Jobe (This song is faster than most of them. It is a good choice if you had a lot of distractions before your quiet time. You can sing along with lots of energy in the song!)
Your Spirit – Tasha Cobbs Leonard with Kierra Sheard (Beautiful.)
Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh on Me - Mark Kwan (Very calming.)
Spirit Move - Kalley Heiligenthal and Bethel Music (This will get you excited about the arrival of the power of the Holy Spirit in your space.)
Come Holy Spirit – Vertical Worship (I love singing to a video of a concert type performance. I feel like I am there seeing everyone calling on the Holy Spirit.)
