Here is guide for praying to receive the Spirit from Genesis to Revelation. The Holy Spirit, since the beginning of time, has been bringing the Creator’s loving order to the chaos in the world. We all need that help, that hope, in times like these—and receiving the Holy Spirit is the answer to every human beings deepest need.

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Lord Jesus, you said to Your disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21–22 NIV).

Today, I receive you, Holy Spirit!

I open myself to you today, knowing that in receiving you there may be parties of salvation and joy ahead (Acts 2:1), a few things will get moved around (Acts 2:2), I will be filled with the fire of love for others (Acts 2:3), and I will be empowered with gifts for the mission of loving the world to life in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:4–8, 11b).

You are the Breath of God (ruakh) and the Original Artist (Gen. 1:1), bringing beauty from chaos (Gen. 1:2), animating human life (Gen. 2:7), and sustaining all things seen and unseen (Gen. 2:1).You speak to us (Gen. 15:12a), helps us obey (Gen. 22:1–2), rush to a humble heart (1 Sam. 16:13a), and renew us in worship (Ps. 51:10–12).

Holy Spirit, you are with us everywhere (Ps. 139:7–10), leading us to the good life (Ps. 143:10), stirring praise in our spirits (Ex. 15:19– 21), and welcoming us into awakening moments (Ex. 3:2–4). You give your people prophetic discernment (Gen. 41:38), work through our skills (Ex. 31:1–6), orchestrate our such-a-time-as-this moments (Esther 4:12–14), and use God-hearing leaders (Judges 4:14) to guide us. 

Spirit, you give us a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26–27), call God’s people to be a kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:4–6a), and pour out God’s presence on us (Joel 2:28–29; 32a). You rested on the Messiah (Isa. 11:1–3). You empower the good news that sets captives free (Isa. 61:1–2a), and you give us life (Job 33:4).

Holy Spirit, you were with the Living Word at the dawn of creation (John 1:1–5), and You give us the strength to obey (Luke 1:35)—working powerfully through those aware of the Father’s love (Matt. 3:16–17). You make us born again (John 3:5–8), you are our Helper (John 14:16– 17), you reveal Jesus to us (John 15:26), and you guide us into all truth (John 16:13). 

Holy Spirit, you glorify Jesus (John 16:14–15; 17:23) and reveal to us the depths of God (1 Cor. 2:9–10). You build up the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12–14), empower us with the Father’s love (Rom. 8:14–15), and teach us what to say when we need to declare our faith (Luke 12:11–12). 

By you we learn how to walk on the path of life (Gal. 5:16–18), experience freedom (2 Cor. 3:17), gain the fruitful character of Christ (Gal. 5:22–23), quench our spiritual thirst (John 7:37–39), and come out of deserts with power (Luke 4:1–2,14–15).

Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of Jesus’ resurrection within us (Rom. 8:11), you are lavishly given by the Father (Luke 11:13), you show us the way of love (1 Cor. 13:1–7), and equip us for ministry with profound spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1–2). Your great symphony of spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:7) are expressed through the church, and gifts are distributed to all (1 Cor. 12:4–6), are many and abundant (1 Cor. 12:8–11), and are for the building up of the local church (Rom. 12:4–8).

Holy Spirit, you strengthen the body through gifted leaders (Eph. 4:11–13), speak to us through the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:14–17), through impressions and intuitions (Acts 20:22–24), through gifts of wisdom (James 3:13, 17; Col. 1:9–12), and through the body of Christ (Acts 13:2–3; Rom. 12:5). 

Spirit of God, you are a deposit and guarantee of resurrection and the new creation to come (2 Cor. 5:5), you help us wait in hope (Gal. 5:5), you give us divine perspective (Ps. 73:16–17), and you open us to the Father’s love (Gal. 4:6).

I am strengthened inwardly by you, Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:16–19), and I am invited to partner in the healing of the world (John 16:7). I remember now that God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17), and worship is to flow from us in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24).

Holy Spirit, you give us righteousness, peace, and joy (Rom. 14:17–18), fill the temple of the church (1 Cor. 3:16), and help us in our weakness (Rom. 8:26–27). 

With you, Holy Spirit, we as the Bride of Christ say, “Come Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:17), come and make the kingdoms of this world your kingdoms, Lord and Christ (Rev. 11:15).. 

I breathe deeply of You, Holy Spirit, and drink deeply of the Father’s love for me. You are given to the church as a gift—for the sake of the world you love (John 3:16).

Today, I receive the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

This prayer is adapted by the author from Receive the Holy Spirit: A 70-Day Journey Through the Scriptures, by Dan Wilt.

In these pages you’ll:

• Be invited to receive the Spirit of God into your very being
• Learn what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit, the second person of the Trinity
• Experience the difference of living filled with the creative and sustaining power of God’s Spirit

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