During my 6 day retreat I came across a book entitled The Naked Now, Learning to See as the Mystics See by Rohr.

He wrote:

There is absolutely nothing you can do to earn or get the Holy Spirit; there is nothing at all you can do to attain the divine indwelling. Don’t try to “believe” in the Holy Spirit as one doctrine among others. Instead, practice drawing from this deep well within you, and then you will naturally believe. Put the horse first, and it will draw the cart.”

Richard Rohr

Do you remember the New testament story when the sorcerer wanted to buy the Holy Spirit? Read Acts 8:9-25. Verse 13 says this man of Samaria believed about Jesus and was baptized. Disciples were sent to teach and anoint with laying on of hands for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That is when trouble really began for this man. He wanted to buy the power. Peter rebuked him saying:

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! ²¹ You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. ²² Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

Acts 8:20-22 NIV

Draw from the deep well of living water within you. You do not have to go to a conference or revival to get the Holy Spirit! The Spirit is given freely by the Father due to the Risen Christ. Believe and receive it. Then practice drawing from that holy well.

You might ask, “How will I know it is from God?” In almost every text I pick up from my book shelf the statement is made that if you want to be certain your relationship is with the Living God you will be required to enter silence, solitude. There are also a few tried and true ways outlined in steps.

1. There should be a Scripture to back it up
2. This will be something others are saying to you
3. You will experience peace from the Lord, the peace that passes all understanding.

The enemy of God wants to mislead you, but the Father is insistent that He loves those who are His. He will protect us, guide us, lead us and deliver us safely. Jude sums it up well!

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” ¹⁹ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

²⁰ But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

²² Be merciful to those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

²⁴ To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— ²⁵ to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 17-25 NIV

Give yourself to practice drinking from this deep well, the holy drink from the Holy Spirit. Be amazed at how God can work in and through you.