Perhaps you have attended a service where the pastor has said something like, “Let’s pray that the Spirit of God will move in our midst today.” I have, at times, wondered what that means and, more importantly, what needs to happen for God to move in our midst. 

Recently, I came across two verses of Scripture that might help us better understand what we need to do in our lives to see God work amongst us. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Behold the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or His ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” A friend of mine likes to highlight the fact that the Holy Spirit is not an atmosphere humans can create but rather a living being who longs to fill us with Himself.

He doesn’t fill the room unless there are open, obedient, and willing hearts to receive Him. When we get saved, we receive the Holy Spirit, but then we must continually seek to be filled with His fullness. In Ephesians 5:18, we read, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” Paul is instructing us to live only under the full control of the Holy Spirit. In order for this to happen, we must at all times be fully yielded to God and the truth of His word. When Christians gather, with fully yielded hearts and lives, God is going to move. 

So, the next time you go to church, don’t ask yourself, Is God going to move today, or am I going to 'feel' the Spirit today? Rather, ask yourself, Am I fully yielded today? Have I repented of all known sin and rebellion against God? Am I ready to be fully obedient to anything God asks of me? When our hearts are right with God, He will hear our prayers, and we will see Him work.