Understanding the Holy Spirit

Being filled with the Holy Spirit may include speaking in tongues, but it''s not limited to tongues, and neither is tongues the only evidence of being Spirit-filled. The Holy Spirit is not a performance gift but a character gift. When the performance is over, one must live a disciplined lifestyle daily.

As a child, I thought that the Holy Spirit came to make you roll across the floor, dance, shout, speak in tongues, and run across the church. Growing up in the Pentecostal church, I did not understand that I could have an intimate daily walk with the Holy Spirit as my Guide, Teacher, and Friend. Most importantly, the Holy Spirit at His core is the gift of love. Once your heart is filled with the love of God, no external force can conquer you.