An Open Door – The Holy Spirit’s Indwelling

Every morning between 5 and 6 AM my alarm clock went off without fail. With some clocks you can hit the snooze and get some extra Zzz’s but not this one, its snooze was permanently out of order. And if I didn’t deal with my persistent alarm by jumping out of bed not only would the whole family wake up but part of the neighborhood as well. I would be fully awake by the time I opened the door to the garage and turned off the barking alarm by filling up a cup with dog food and pouring it into a silver dish. Kiah went from barking to tailing wagging as she delightfully devoured her dog chow. After her breakfast and pouring my freshly brewed coffee she followed me into my office for our morning devotions where she sat content at my feet dreaming of her next meal.

A few weeks ago my alarm didn’t go off, it was a sad day in the Spykstra home as that morning the barking stopped. I was reminiscing with my daughter Anna about our beloved dog Kiah and the joy she brought to our home as well as the numerous life lessons. One of the first lessons we shared was her consistent begging and barking for food. Faithfully at five in the morning and at five at night her internal clock went off and she would not give up until we fed her. Food was her passion; even around the dinner table she would sit up like a prairie dog on her hind legs and give you the saddest look until you slipped her some scraps.

Kiah was a constant reminder to us of what our relationship to the Father in Heaven was to be like. We need to keep crying out and begging the Father to open Heaven’s door and feed us with the presence of His Holy Spirit. E.M. Bounds, a well-known author on prayer says concerning the Holy Spirit, “He is the Father’s greatest gift for the child’s greatest need.” Jesus states this truth when he says in John 15:16ff.

“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever the Spirit of truth…he will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” 

The “daily bread” that is most needed is the Spirit of the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ awakened in us. Jesus and His disciples after Him would not think of doing life and ministry without the Bread from Heaven. They showed us this Gift from the Father can only come our way by continually “asking, seeking and knocking” on the door of Heaven. Jesus says to us “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” John 16:24.

I miss my alarm clock, but maybe now more than ever I’m trying to learn from Kiah’s example of not giving up barking out for food until the door opens and the bowl is filled and “joy is complete.” I believe we are in a new move of Father God where His children are getting hungry again. Neither the treats of this world nor the traditions of men have been able to satisfy the souls deepest desire, only the Father’s presence can fill that with the gift of the Holy Spirit.