What the Holy Spirit Feels Like (Part 2)

I've been surprised by how many people come to my blog by googling the question, What does the Holy Spirit Feel like? I wrote about the kids take on what it feels like to feel the spirit here, but because so many people seem to be asking, I want to give you my take, as well.

The Spirit can manifest himself to people in different ways. I, myself, have felt his influence many times, and it isn't always the same experience. Most often, I will be praying or attending a religious meeting and feel an overwhelming peace. How can peace be overwhelming? It's a joy that is strong enough to fill my insides to bursting and sometimes bring tears to my eyes. It usually begins in my chest and grows from there.

When I prayed about marrying My Robby, the answer came in the form of a scripture verse and an accompanying sureness that it was right. I can't imagine having made that life-altering decision without prayer and the Spirit.

There was one time when I was warned that my son was in danger. I was warned through an image that came to me at night before I went to sleep. I can hardly express how important this little event was. I could have lost him, but God gave me the ability to protect him that night by warning me through the Holy Ghost.

Sometimes the Spirit helps me know I should do something by helping me feel happy and excited about it. That was how I knew I should go to BYU. I had a perfectly good community college in walking distance, but the whisperings of the Holy Ghost let me know that wasn't the right path for me.

When something isn't right, I feel empty or confused, and I feel a desire to keep looking for a different answer.

One of the main roles of the Holy Spirit is to comfort. The hardest thing I ever went through was when I miscarried at 11 weeks before I had any children. Through the comfort of the Holy Ghost, I felt Heavenly Father's love for me. I knew He was there and cared about me. The trial was difficult, no doubt about it, but looking back, I never felt so loved as I did during that time. He helps me know that I'm not alone.

I feel the Holy Spirit in my life on a daily basis. Sometimes it's a thought. Sometimes I'm not sure where the thought originated, whether it was my own or from the Spirit. At times, I find later that I was able to be the Lord's hands in answering someone's prayer. And other times, someone comes to answer mine.

I have felt his witness that my Heavenly Father cares about me and that my Savior, Jesus Christ cares. I know They are real.

If you care to share how the Spirit manifests himself to you, feel free.

Have a beautiful day.
XOXO

Learning to be a Reliable Servant of the Lord

It's not often that I wax religious on the old blog, but I have been thinking about something. So, here it is...

Sometimes we are in the exact place someone needs us to be, and it's not a coincidence. And when that moment comes, we have a choice to make. We feel what we are supposed to do, but we still have to act. We choose to act on our impressions or not.

A while back, I saw one of my old Sunday School teachers at Costco. I felt like I should stop and say something, but I was afraid. I was afraid she wouldn't recognize me, that I wouldn't know what to say, that it would be awkward FOR ME. I wasn't thinking about her. I let the moment pass. Again, I saw her from a distance and let the moment pass. Guilt started to creep up my soul and I knew I had missed an opportunity that God had given me to help someone.

Fortunately the story doesn't end there.

My heart uttered a prayer as I continued my shopping. Father, I know I messed up. I know I need to be a more reliable servant to thee. If this was an important moment I missed, PLEASE give me another chance. If it is somehow important that I talk to her today, please let me come across her again.

I finished shopping and was in the car. I felt that I should drive around the parking lot. I saw my Sunday School teacher loading up her car. I pulled over, chatted a few minutes, gave her a hug, and left. I felt better, but I didn't feel that I had done anything spectacular or even important.

Months later, I received a letter from this sweet lady. The brief words shook me. She wrote, "You may never know what it meant to me that you stopped, when you were obviously busy, to talk."

I am trying to get over my fears. My silly fears of people. My silly fear that someone won't want to talk to me when, in fact, maybe they need to see a friendly face.

I am striving to be a reliable servant of the Lord.