Recognizing The Spirit

I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the Holy Spirit, and how important it is to recognize His voice. We need to know what He is saying, not simply 'what He said'. This thought process has taken me down some interesting avenues.

We believe the Spirit comforts us. He is the comforter. But what does He comfort us 'from'? Why do we need a comforter and the rest of the world doesn't? He comforts us because we are to go where things get uncomfortable. The rest of the world has no such commission. I always thought He comforted us when someone dies, or we lose a pet. He does, but that isn't the gift. The Holy Spirit is of such vital importance - but He doesn't step into His role two or three times in our lives (hopefully) when we experience grief or loss. That's not the point or the purpose.

He also convicts. How do we know that? Because we feel bad when we sin - and why else would we? That seems indirect, doesn't it?

He also teaches. How do we know that? Because we start realizing things that we know could not be revealed to us unless it was done supernaturally. Once again... the Holy Spirit is there - but we have 'deduced' His Presence.

He leads us, too, right? Why else did I take that turn back there and end up witnessing to the paper boy?

There must be more to Him than our ability to reason He is there. There must be a 'voice', and we MUST be able to hear Him.

I am not to the point where I'm making up things to explain away all the reasons why I don't hear Him. Granted, there aren't many people I can talk to about it - because most of them have made peace with the silence.

I'm determined to get to the quiet place.