The Guest Room in the Basement

We have a guest bedroom in our walkout basement with a full bathroom and a beautiful view of the stone patio and fireplace.  The basement is fully equipped with a living area, an exercise studio, and a bar / kitchenette.  It could actually serve as an apartment if someone wanted to live there. 

When my mother-in-law comes to visit, she prefers to stay in the guest room on the second floor.  She stays warmer on the second floor, but she also prefers to be closer to where we all are instead of two levels down in the basement, alone.

We’ve had guests that enjoyed staying in the basement.  They could enjoy their own space and a greater level of privacy.  Since we have soundproof insulation in the ceiling, it would be easy to forget that someone was down there.

I thought of this during a morning devotional while I was in Guatemala.  The speaker made a point of how we often try to put the Holy Spirit in the basement.  We try to live our lives on our own, feeling secure that the Spirit is nearby, and we can bring Him out whenever we need Him.  But unless we feel like we need Him, He stays in the basement.

When we do that, we miss out on the blessings we could enjoy if we lived in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, that would mean giving up some of the earthly pleasures that we desire, but if the Spirit is not welcome in those, we simply don’t need them.  God wants us to be filled with His Spirit.  He also commands us to be filled with His Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” 

Where does the Holy Spirit live in your life?  The basement might be a very nice place, but you’ll enjoy a greater, more fulfilling relationship with God if you let Him out of the basement and into the upstairs guest room.