When seeking the Holy Spirit, we must refuse to allow ourselves to be caught in that emotional trap of looking for bright lights or sensations. We do not look for experience, but for Him. We do not seek blessings, but Him. We don’t even hunt for the gifts, but for Him. When we have found the Spirit, then blessing, experience, and gifts are ours; but He chooses the ways and the manifestations and the times. We keep our hearts listening, content to allow Him to decide how to meet us.
How appropriate the infilling of the Holy Spirit was to my experience of hospitality. Prior to my personal meeting with Him, David and I had always opened our home to those we met through our work. Now He was teaching me to yield everything, my dwelling as well as my soul, to His Guestness. “Come, Lord Jesus. Be our Guest,” was no longer the prattled singsong of the children at table, but the deep cry of my heart.
At night, lying on the pillow, I would invite Him to inhabit our home, to fill every room with His love. In prayer I would imagine the very atmosphere being softened by His response to my invitation. There He was quietly rocking in the children’s rooms as they slept, peace and gentleness surrounding their dreams.
Fill our home, Lord, with Yourself. Let us give to those who come, You. He comes, this Guest, externally in the rooms and internally in our souls. Here He is in His immanence and in His transcendence.
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Award-winning author Karen Mains continues to write content for her Christian blog, “Thoughts-by-Karen-Mains.” In so doing, she desires to touch the lives of Christian women and men and help them find ways to walk closer with the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, through silent retreats, spiritual teaching, women’s retreats, Christian vacation opportunities, and other ministry activities, Karen helps each Christian woman and man receive vital spiritual food.
Karen has long had an interest in Christian hospitality and is the author of the best-selling book, Open Heart, Open Home.
Through her Hungry Souls ministry, Karen serves as a spiritual coach to many Christian women and men, and teaches a mentor-writing class. And, through the Global Bag Project, she is working to develop a network of African women who sew exquisite cloth reusable shopping bags. This micro-finance women opportunity helps provide a much-needed sustainable income for struggling African families. For more information on this critically important project, please click here.
For decades, Karen and her husband, David, have served God through religious communications—radio, television, and print publication. The are the co-authors of the Kingdom Tales Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, and Tales of the Restoration. To find many valuable resources for pastors and churches at the Mainstay Ministries main website, please click here.
Likewise, pastors will find special resources to help them prepare effective, life-transforming Sunday sermons by visiting David Mains’ website by clicking here.
