Three Thieves of Intimacy with the Holy Spirit

For those wanting to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, they must learn to create opportunities to be with Him. You see, relationships are birthed out of being together with the Holy Spirit. It is a time investment. Sadly, we often are just too busy. There are too many other priorities. Because of the lopsided priorities, the longing to be in His presence and to have communion with Him is pushed further and further down our list of priorities.

This week, allow me to share three ideologies in which many have subscribed that rob them of their time with the Holy Spirit.
1. You can have it all. We race through life, working and maneuvering to try to acquire everything on our "have-to-have-it" list. This pursuit to accumulate everything is a thief that will eventually leave you empty. King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:10, 17 showed the futility of this ideology.
2. You can do it all. While we know that we really can't do it all, our crowded, hectic schedules would prove that we think otherwise. And sadly, we push this ideology on to our children by engaging them in multiple activities (piano lessons AND soccer leagues AND junior Bible quiz) in addition to the eight-hour school day and the enormous amounts of homework. No wonder there isn’t any room for an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
3. You deserve it all. This mentality will push a person to the limits (or rather, beyond the limits) to gain goals. While goal setting and having dreams are both important and biblical, the attitude of the heart reflected in these goals and dreams should always be Holy Spirit approved. This will prevent self-centered attitudes and behavior and promote a life-style of dependency upon the Holy Spirit and thus causing the longing to fellowship and commune with Him.