Scripture talks about the Holy Spirit a lot, but how does one know when the Holy Spirit is around?

The Bible says that the Holy Spirit enters the life of every Christian (John 3:5). However, Christians often wonder if they've experienced the Holy Spirit at all. Perhaps they've never had an overwhelming feeling or moment where they undeniably felt God's presence, or they just haven’t taken the time to notice the manifestations of God working in their lives. And how does one become sensitive to the Holy Spirit in the first place?

Discover what the Holy Spirit feels like and how to sense His presence below. As always, the goal is to grow in spiritual maturity by becoming more attuned to the voice of God.

What Does the Holy Spirit Feel Like?

For many people, feeling the Holy Spirit for the first time can feel like intense peace and love. It can also feel like a sense of inner knowing or understanding or being surrounded by light and a holy presence. 

There is no one way to feel the Holy Spirit, but it's certainly a profoundly moving and powerful experience for most people. To put in a list, when the Holy Spirit enters one's life, one may get a sense of:

• Peace, warmth, and calmness
• Love, belongingness, and acceptance
• Joy, hope, and excitement
• Cleansing and purification
• Protection, security, and refuge
• Empowerment, motivation, and inspiration
• Indescribable knowing and understanding
• Spiritual closeness to God

If you want to experience these things, ask God to fill you with His presence. He may speak to you through thoughts or feelings, or He may also reveal Himself in a dream or vision. However God chooses to communicate, it should lead you to worship and grow deeper in your relationship with Him. 

Once you experience the Holy Spirit, be open to obeying His commands regardless of your doubts and inhibitions. God will strengthen and enable you to follow His lead. You’ll then experience His goodness, where the Bible tells us, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8).

How Does the Holy Spirit Feel Physically?

For some people, feeling the Holy Spirit can be a physical sensation, as our bodies are designed to respond to God's presence. When the Holy Spirit enters a Christian’s life, they may feel a sense of:

• Warmth and embrace
• Tingling and electricity
• Physical balance and mental stability

These sensations are often accompanied by an intense feeling of peace and love – like being hugged by God – as the Holy Spirit is also associated with His love and comfort. As Christians allow the Holy Spirit to change their hearts, they may start to feel His love more deeply. 

As a result, Christians may have increased compassion and kindness toward others. They may find themselves experiencing more joy, peace, and patience, even in difficult situations. These relatively-tangible signs are the fruits of the Spirit, where Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Dwight L. Moody shared his thoughts on the Holy Spirit, saying, “The work of the Spirit is to impart life, to implant hope, to give liberty, to testify of Christ, to guide us into all truth, to teach us all things, to comfort the believer, and to convict the world of sin.”

If you're wondering what the Holy Spirit feels like physically, be open to sensing His presence in whatever way He manifests Himself. Pay attention to any sensations you feel in your body when you pray, worship, or meditate on Scripture. You just might experience one of the signs we mentioned above, to which you should respond with praise and thanksgiving to God.

Tips for Feeling the Holy Spirit for the First Time

Don't be pressured to feel anything when you pray or worship. Instead, allow God to be in control and be patient as you wait for the Holy Spirit to work. Just because you don't feel His presence doesn't mean He isn't there. 

Scripture tells us, “[God] will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth… you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

Still, if you're seeking to feel the Holy Spirit for the first time, here are a few things you can do:

• Pray that God will fill you with His Spirit. Be specific in your request and be willing to surrender your life.
• Read and meditate on Scripture to better understand who God is and how He wants to work in you.
• Worship and praise God with all your heart. As you focus on Him, He will start to reveal Himself to you.
• Spend time to be still before God. This will help you to quiet your mind and listen for His voice.
• Be open to sensing God's presence in whatever way He manifests Himself. 

In short, don't be afraid to let Him lead you and guide you into a deeper relationship with Him. The best way to feel the Holy Spirit is to surrender your life to God and be open to His leading. 

Christians will then sense His presence, see God working in ways they could never have imagined, and be reminded of His promises. As Scripture has explained, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).

Being Sensitive to the Spirit of God

The Holy Spirit is a vital part of the Christian life. He guides, comforts, and leads God's people into truth. When Christians open themselves to the Holy Spirit, they'll experience emotional and physical transformations and witness God working in their lives. They'll then respond with praise and thanksgiving, grow closer to God, and continue to feel the Holy Spirit moving in their hearts.

As Scripture tells us, "Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing" (Psalm 34:10). May God’s people seek Him with all their hearts, trusting in His promise of being present in every person’s lives.