A Relationship with the Holy Spirit

I often refer to Paul's statement concerning the emphasis that he placed in his life for praying in his heavenly prayer language. In 1 Corinthians 14:18 Paul stated that he prayed in tongues "more than ye all." Have you ever considered why Paul would place such an emphasis?

1. Relationship. Paul had learned that praying in tongues provides an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
2. Discipline. I meet so, so many people through the dual roles of being a children's pastor in a large church and also traveling to speak in conferences and churches. I am constantly meeting people and yet, few if any of these new acquaintances will become life-long buddies. Relationships are developed because of my making a conscious effort to connect and reconnect and rereconnect with that person. It is a conscious effort of discipline to find the time to make the telephone call and at other times rearrange calendars so that we can spend time together over a meal. Paul had discovered that his relationship with the Holy Spirit had to be founded upon a discipline for he said in 1 Corinthians 14:15 "I will pray with the Spirit ..." Did you see that? Paul said, "I will ..." Praying with the Spirit is a discipline, a matter of will. Paul had learned the importance of making time to develop this relationship. Convenience and having to have a certain type of feeling didn't determine his personal prayer life in the Spirit. His resolve or discpline was founded upon his "I will ..." He had learned that the clock and typical day-to-day emotions couldn't dictate or preempt his relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Do you want to become a person of the Spirit? Then learn the joy and privilege of having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit that comes through having a disciplined lifestyle of praying in the Spirit. Let's be like Paul. Let's unwaveringly say, "I will ..."