Today, many believers work hard to “get into God’s presence.” We lean on music, lighting, and emotion to help us “feel” something spiritual. What we fail to realize is that the Holy Spirit doesn’t just “show up” when the bridge of the song hits. God is always present- but are we? The reality is that in this fast-paced world full of multi-tasking and dopamine-seeking, we are often too distracted to slow down enough to notice Him. As a result, we rely on emotional experiences to "feel" connected to God. Then we struggle halfway through the week to feel the same way we did on Sunday and end up falling back to our own vices, week after week. Some Christians even believe they can only experience God at church. That’s simply not true. We can worship God anytime and anywhere we choose.
As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives in us. In John 14:16-17, Jesus comforted his disciples and shared that God would send the Holy Spirit to be with them forever and will be in each of them- to be a Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener and Standby. When we worship, we are not trying to summon God. Instead, we need to learn to notice Him. Notice Him in the stillness before sunrise, the protection on a busy road, the daily blessings before us, and our answered prayer. When we confuse our emotion with His presence, we unintentionally train ourselves to chase feelings instead of recognizing God’s faithfulness. The Spirit often works in quieter ways like conviction, clarity, surrender, joy, and courage. These are spiritual realities revealed to us through the Holy Spirit when we quiet ourselves enough to listen.
During Pentecost, God didn’t just send the Holy Spirit to visit His people. God sent His Spirit to fill, empower, and dwell within them [Acts 1:8]. The Spirit isn’t about an atmosphere we create but about recognizing the God who already dwells within us. It’s not about the right song… it’s about our surrendered heart. So instead of trying to “feel” our way into God’s presence, let us walk in the truth that Jesus promised: The Holy Spirit lives in you always.
Reflection:
- Where in my life am I relying on emotion to feel close to God instead of trusting the Spirit who already dwells in me?
- What practices help me quiet my heart enough to notice the Spirit’s presence, conviction, and guidance?
- What is one thing I can do this week to help me notice the Spirit’s presence?
Prayer:
Lord, I give thanks for your steadfast love. I do not always notice you in all my distractions of this world and reliance on emotions to fulfill me. Help me to quiet the noise so that I can notice Your Spirit around me and be filled by Your Presence.