Chapter 1
LET s GET REACQUAINTED
WITH THE SPIRIT
W
Selected Scriptures
inston Churchill once used the phrase， \"a riddle wrapped in
a mystery inside an enigma. 1 How many of us， I wonder，
would describe the Holy Spirit the same way? Be truthful now. Put
away all the textbook definitions， and think about what you really
know about Him.
The fact is， many Christians have never really understood Him
well at all， and that lack of understanding is reflected in our awk-
ward attempts to relate to Him. At best， we might say that our
relationship is an uncomfortable one. We re not sure what to say
or feel or how to act around Him， so we often ignore Him as if He
were an uninvited member of the Trinity. Then， too， He often gets
credited for people s bizarre behavior， which only increases our fears.
The end result is that， instead of drawing closer to God s Spirit，
many believers back away with a wary attitude.
Could it be that insecurity and guardedness are keeping you
from getting acquainted with God s intimate Spirit? He is that， you
know..， intimate， personal， and penetratingly practical. So
c mon， don t be shy. Come up close and get to know this companion
of our souls who strengthens and guides us on our spiritual journey.
Let your heart be warmed by the flame of His empowering presence.
Ready?
Then let s begin by calling on Him with this simple yet eloquent
prayer.
Come， Holy Ghost， our souls inspire
And lighten us with celestial fire.2
i. Winston Churchill， as quoted in Bartlett s Familiar Quotations， 15th ed.， rex
Emily Morison Beck (Boston， Mass.: Little， Brown and Co.， 1980)， p. 743.
2. Rabanus Maurus， as quoted in 12，000 Religious Quotations， comp. Frank S. Mead (1965
reprint， Grand Rapids， Mich.: Baker Book House， 1989)， p. 228.
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