#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 17 by Ayomide Akin Oteniya

I literally just stumbled across your tumblr and blog this evening and I think it's wonderful that you're doing the Holy Spirit challenge! I've enjoyed reading all the entries so far, so I thought I'd share mine as well. So here goes.....

The Holy Spirit speaking to me has definitely been one of the most rewarding benefits of my Christian walk so far. The most vivid memory I have of this was a couple of months ago when I was revising for my final year exams. I distinctly remember for my Intellectual Property Law exam, I had prayed and asked God for guidance on what topics to revise for the exam because it wasn't possible/advisable to revise all the topics that had been covered throughout the year. It's funny because the Bible says we should ask and we will receive, I asked God for guidance and indeed he answered me through the Holy Spirit by directing me to focus on a particular topic. At the time, I wasn't able to discern as clearly the difference between my voice and that of the Holy Spirit so in my confusion, I decided it would be wiser and less of a gamble to revise another topic in conjunction with the one I had been specifically told would come out. Ofcourse, when I got to the exam, the topic came out and the exact case and area I had focused some of my revision on. If I had taken that leap of faith and focused more on the topic, I definitely would have done a lot better in the exam. But I thank God for my success through him nonetheless. 

Since then, I have focused on spending more time with God through reading my Bible and having quiet time where I sit with my Heavenly Father and listen. Because the truth is that he speaks to us ALL the time! From the most mundane things like giving up your seat on the train to an elderly person to the big stuff like career decisions. As humans, we naturally tend to speak more than we listen and this applies in our relationships with God too, but I've learnt that we have to be intentional about listening to Him and seeking after Him. Indeed the scripture says that He rewards those who seek him diligently. The relationship is definitely an ongoing process but the beautiful thing is that the more time you spend with God and in His word, the more clearly you hear His voice.

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 15 by Ibukun Aiyemo

Growing up in a Christian home helped me. From an early age of about 8, I was baptized in the Holy Ghost by my parents. At first i didn't know why and what it was and also why it had to be my birthday gift. I woke up elated for my birthday presents but all i got at first was my parents speaking in tongues and baptizing me in the Holy Spirit.
  

As time went on,I would only speak in tongues in church as people would tell me "It is only done when you are under the Spirit" (thank God i know better now). 
  

I got into high school and for every exam I had to take, my mum repeated these words " Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, bring things to your remembrance......" and out of anxiety and Faith I did. She helped me understand that the Holy Spirit was in me and I could ask Him for anything as long as it is according to the will of God. When i was looking for things I would ask Him and then find it. 
  

However, i also learned that The Holy Spirit can be grieved. Although, sometimes I would fall short and live in guilt and shame,but that's also conviction, proof that I have the Holy Spirit in me. Apart from the Holy Spirit being in the Trinity ( which i hope many people understand) , He should not be taken for granted. 
The Holy Spirit also reveals things to us, prophecies, etc. Speaking in tongues as well is not rocket science or some ritual that requires special procedures.

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 14 by Iniye Spiff

My relationship with the Holy Spirit is the most interesting dynamic.. The Holy Spirit speaks to me through the most basic and random things.. I could be watching a completely non related TV program and the Holy spirit would give me a word or a lesson based off something so simple from the show or use it as a confirmation for something. I remember one time I was watching a program about illnesses once and I was just really confused about how God let some things happen to some people and others seemed free. But I kept hearing a verse over and over again “My ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts.. As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways above yours”.  He speaks to me a lot by bringing bible verses that I wouldn't otherwise remember to my remembrance.

The Holy Spirit for me is my number 1 comforter, he is always ready to work through people for me.. I was in church one Sunday and I had cried ALL through the night before. I struggled to go to church that morning and I was just emotionally unable to partake in the service but in my mind I kept asking God to please come through for me, all of a sudden this lady that I have NEVER seen in the church before comes up to me and sits next to me during praise worship and she says “The Holy Spirit told me to come and tell you that all will be well.. That I saw you crying last night, I will not forget your tears. I am here with you and I will never leave you, my presence is all you need, I am the King and I am here”. I had goosebumps on my body and at that moment I just started crying because the Holy Spirit did his work through someone else for me. I literally have a hundred and one more examples of what the spirit has done for me but in all he is just my main Guy.. I couldn't do anything, nothing at all without Him

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 13 by Yewande Mohammed

Most recently whenever something is within my grasp...literally when I'm about to move from one level to another...things are being taken away from me. It has happened 3x in a row and I'm beginning to worry.

I won't lie I am discouraged and I want to give up so badly but a few days ago I called my dad and he spoke some real words to me. God (holy spirit) speaks to me through my dad, especially. He told me this "God told him these things are happening to me now because he doesn't want me to face such issues later in my life...and that everything that's happening will eventually work in my favor".

It's hard to hear these words and believe especially when you feel like your world is crumbling. Like life is playing the sickest joke on you. I have been hearing these exact words for a while now and it's easier to believe until you're actually going through the trials and you're low on faith and resolve.

However, today I'll choose God again, over and over again. The flesh says otherwise but I'll choose him again. I'll choose God even when the situation seems stacked against me. I'll choose my trusted helper in time of need over and over again.

Ultimately, I want to look back on his post and remember how this challenge triggered me. How I felt an urge to encourage someone or anyone, even in my time of need. I'll end this with the bible quote I saw the day I received my not so good news this week:

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall

stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2

Thessalonians 3:3 KJV)

This passage highlights 3 things: 1. God's faithfulness (A promise), 2. God's active hand upon our lives (Establishing me, you, us, etc) 3. Keeping us from evil (His protection). Meaning, while his promise are made available he will keep me and keep me from evil so it all stays permanent. I am beyond blessed even if my situation doesn't dictate that!

Thank you Lord!!

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 6 by Fikayo Iluyomade

When I ask for stuff I open up to God like I’m in a conversation with God. Like when we have financial difficulties, I’m like God “look at this, we don’t have X we need Y I just want us to have ABC”. Even while standing on the word Psalm 23:1 “…I shall not want” I acknowledge the fact that I’m not deserving so I plead. Then I ask for a sign. “God if you don’t want me to do X, let Y happen. E.g. my University education: “God if you don’t want me to study law at University of Birmingham or Leicester, don’t let me make the grades in my A levels”. I didn’t make the grades, I got B, B, C. C two marks off a B. I tried to get a remark and my mark went to a lower C. Now I’m studying Criminology at Leicester. I keep praying that God will shut bad doors in my face till I reach the good door. every time after I stumble, God reveals the lesson to me. I really wanted to do Law, but this made me realise that I didn’t actually want to do law. Criminology might be what is best for me. I don’t know. God knows best.

"I open up to God like I’m in a conversation with God"

Fikayo 

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry 12 by Funmi Peters

As I was wondering how to answer the question ' how the Holy Spirit speaks to me 'this is an extract of the devotion of today and it best answers the question in my life

'The Holy Spirit is the divine author of all Scripture. If this doctrine is true — and it is — then the implications are so profound and far-reaching that every part of our lives should be affected.

Because the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture,

- It is true (Psalm 119:142) and altogether reliable (Hebrews 6:18).

-It is powerful, working its purpose in our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and not returning empty to the One who sent it (Isaiah 55:10–11).

-It is pure, like silver refined in a furnace seven times (Psalm 12:6).

-It is sanctifying (John 17:17).

-It gives life (Psalm 119:37, 50, 93, 107; John 6:63; Matthew 4:4).

-It makes wise (Psalm 19:7; 119:99–100).

-It gives joy (Psalm 19:8; 119:16, 92, 111, 143, 174) and promises great reward (Psalm 19:11).

-It gives strength to the weak (Psalm 119:28) and comfort to the distraught (Psalm 119:76) and guidance to the perplexed (Psalm 119:105) and salvation to the lost (Psalm 119:155; 2 Timothy 3:15).

-The wisdom of God in Scripture is inexhaustible.'

To make it clear the Holy Spirit speaks to me through scripture! When I'm down, confused, sad, hurt, lost my way or whatever a word comes to encourage and strengthen! I'll give two examples;

1) When I was been delivered from a terrible way of life aka sin I felt the love of God like never before and I wondered why! After everything why still reach out to me and then the scripture of the day was Ezekiel 36:22-27. It was His grace.

2) I was praying for the salvation of someone I love very dearly! I had been for some time and then I heard he was ill and I was scared!! I was at the point where I said God I don't care if he dies but save him from eternal damnation and the scriptures during the course of the week were ; Luke 11:8-13 , 18:1-8 , Matthew 19:23! By His grace the person was healed and and through that same grace will be saved in Jesus name

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than sand 

#TheHolySpiritChallenge Entry by 11 Pamela Duke

Of late, I have slacked in doing the things of God and I have noticed how much He has longed for me again but being the mortal that I am I haven't done much to change the situation. 

This is the second night I have woken up by 3am. (Let's go back a bit shall we. On the 28th of August I woke up by 3am as well from a dream. In the dream I was in the midst of a prayer session going on. The preacher kept praying hard and then some strange noises became audible. Now I wasn't praying before, I was just listening and taking it all in as soon as I heard the strange noises, I began to speak in tongues (my Spirit knew that the strangeness was not of God). As I kept on praying along, it seemed as if it became more; like they were trying to be more powerful than my God because they felt threatened and that's how I woke up. What did I do when I woke up? I just said thank you Lord and that was it! If He could legit punch me and drive home the message, He would have)

Back to today, I just had this sudden urge to go on Twitter first. I did and I came across Kunmi Oni's profile. I came across her blog in the process and yes I opened the link (I normally do not read blogs but this one was different the Holy Spirit was up to something). From Her blog I got to find David Adeleke's and I read different stories about how people had improved in life and how the Holy Spirit was leading His. 

Now the urge to read my Bible grew stronger. I opened an app called Bible +1 and the word for today is together. I clicked on it and it brought out many bible verses but that which I opened was Song of Solomon 5 v 1-16. Normally, I don't read "songs" because I have always felt it referred to Solomon professing his love for his woman but today I saw it in a whole different light. This is God professing His love for me, longing for me to be with Him, He has been knocking on my door patiently waiting for me to open but I've put so many other things ahead of Him, He has cried out for me in so many ways but I haven't answered

 "I slept but my heart was awake when I

heard my lover knocking and calling; open to

me my treasure, my darling, my dove, my

perfect one....but I responded I've taken off

my robe, should I get dressed again? I've

washed my feet, should I get them soiled? My

lover tried to unlatch the door and my heart

thrilled within me ( v 2-4 NLT)

Let me tell you now if you don't know, my God is amazing. As soon as I was done reading the bible, I opened a friend's message I had aired earlier (I was tired and I needed to sleep and I probably wouldn't have opened it till much later in the day) and he had sent me a song with the lyrics even;

I know a God, who’s merciful and kind

Faithful and gracious

I’m the apple of his eyes

And the thought that fills his heart

Every Morning, noon and night

He loved me when I didn’t care

And was patient till I came

Running back into his arms

Look how he turned my life around

Making me a shining light

His glory to reveal

I'm so grateful to the Holy Spirit for this insight. He makes me love Him more everyday. To know He has longed for me and still longs for me is the best ever. By His grace, I'm going to continually work on myself to get to know Him more and work for Him. I can't imagine my life without Him. Thank you Lord for wanting me.