So now you’re on the path to having a spiritual relationship with the Holy Spirit who dwells within you and you’re trying to figure out how to communicate better. Like in any very close friendship you begin to learn what the other is like, how they sound, how they think, and what they like to talk about. What their preferences are, what they like to do, and what they’re good at. Except this relationship is like no other you’ve had before, it’s literally with the living God, who now dwells within you in a way that is very mysterious to you in the beginning. Obviously He who dwells within you is beyond your full comprehension for He is omnipresent (everywhere at once).
So for your education I will try to explain how He speaks to me and the topics He brings up. He has become the best friend I have, as I know He loves me beyond that which I can understand. At the beginning of the relationship the thing I find what He will bring to you is conviction (of sin He wants you to repent of) and comfort (Words of love towards you). You will also begin to understand the difference of conviction and condemnation. He will not condemn you because He has already paid the price for you because He loves you, but He will point out the specific actions and words He wants you to ask forgiveness for that were sin. Conviction is a big part of His ministry to you in the beginning of your walk with Him. But conviction always comes with comfort as you know how much He loves you. He encourages you to follow Him and listen to Him, and spend time with Him. He enlightens the Word to you, especially as you read the scriptures. In hard places and times He calms you, and reassures you. He often comes to still my heart and mind. His job is to lead you into all righteousness.
Understanding the Voice of the Holy Spirit is important and that’s why I began with what He is like in your mind and things He will present. But you will also learn what the enemy will place into your mind to think about. The enemy will rush, and push you in an agitated way. The enemy brings fear. The enemy brings confusion and discouragement. The enemy wants you to worry and be obsessed with frightening thoughts. The enemy doesn’t convict you of your failures, faults, and sins, they condemn you with them, constantly reminding you of how terrible you are, and that you aren’t worth anything. The enemy will entice you with temptation of things you know that the Holy Spirit has said is ‘off limits’ to you. The enemy will always push you further ‘down the hole’ with advice to take another step towards ‘sin’, usually justifying the step telling you it will make you ‘feel better’, which of course for the briefest moment there is that immediate ‘rush’ and then comes the almost crushing regret and sorrow. Then the enemy will tell you that you are not worthy of God receiving you back because you ‘blew it’ again. Which of course is a lie. The Holy Spirit will always come gently to you asking you to ask for forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)
As you begin to understand the love of God in your heart and soul — you’ll begin to understand much more quickly which ‘avenue’ in your mind is being accessed and the source that is ‘speaking’ those thoughts. You will begin to understand why it’s important to ‘bring every thought captive to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:4-6), as you learn to discern where your thoughts are coming from. The Holy Spirit will be reminding you of scripture which confirms His words to you. He will also encourage you to read more in the Bible as He wants to teach you through it. You’ll find a love and joy when you go to open your Bible because you know how much He loves to teach you there in those pages. There is ever increasing depths within the scriptures as He enlightens you to their meaning and value in your life. He is your Teacher. He leads you to know Jesus and the Father in deeper and deeper ways.