How most of us long to have hearts overflowing with love for God and a tangible feeling of closeness to Him, as reflected in many of the Psalms.

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.

When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.                Psalm 63:1-2, 6-8

In the final analysis, this joyful experience of God’s closeness is a gift from Him.  That is why Paul prayed that his Ephesian friends would be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man . . . able to comprehend . . . and to know the love of Christ . . . and be filled up to all the fulness of God.  (Ephesians 3:16-19)   The catalyzing work of the spirit is unpredictable, like the wind, Jesus said.  (John 3:8)  Blow on us, Holy Spirit!

Besides prayer for our awareness of His closeness and for confidence in His adequacy, there are things we can do to be ready for His Spirit to move within us.  Our receptivity to such filling is an important prerequisite.  We can clean house for Him, that He might make Himself at home.  An important aspect of this readiness is to recognize the false attractions the world has to offer for what they are.

For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me,
The fountain of living waters,
To hew for themselves cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That can hold no water.              Jeremiah 2:13

Lord, blind me to the false jewelry of the world around me.  Let me hear the empty clink of counterfeit “money.”  Deafen my ears to the Sirens begging me for attention and pursuit.  Fill my mind with Your majesty, grace, beauty, wisdom, power, holiness, and justice.  Give me eyes only for You!  Give me satisfaction that You are all I need and all I want, in this life and the next.