When Something Holy Brushes Against Your Spirit

When something holy brushes against your spirit. It doesn’t knock you over—it draws you in. And your spirit just knows: you’ve been touched by the presence of God.

There is something I wish every believer could experience—but the truth is, many never do. I’m not talking about salvation. I’m talking about closeness.
I’m talking about surrender like you didn’t know was possible.
A deep, personal nearness to God that isn’t just something you believe—it’s something you live.
Most Christians have no idea what I mean when I say those words. They’ve never experienced it. They don’t even know it’s possible. And yet, it’s what their hearts were made for.

They’re saved—but they’re not living full. They’re reading the Word, maybe even going to church—but they’ve never truly felt the presence of God stir something inside them. They’ve never known what it is to be drawn in by Him in a moment that can’t be explained, only experienced.

The kind of closeness I’m talking about doesn’t come through effort alone. It doesn’t come by just doing more church things or reading more verses. It comes through surrender.

Not the kind we talk about lightly. I mean real surrender—the kind that breaks your pride and puts your plans on the altar. The kind that brings you to your knees and says, “Lord, You can have it all—even the parts I don’t want to let go of.”

That’s where closeness begins. That’s where the fog clears and the stillness starts to make sense. That’s where you start to recognize Him—not just in church, not just in Scripture—but deep within your spirit.

Because when we truly surrender, we stop trying to control how God moves. And that’s when He comes near in ways we never expected.

It doesn’t always happen in church. Sometimes it happens in the quiet of your living room. Sometimes it comes in the middle of a storm. Other times, it’s just you and an open Bible, and suddenly—something shifts.

You stop reading. You stop thinking. And deep down, you just know: He’s here.

You didn’t see anything. You didn’t hear a voice. But something holy brushed against your spirit. And in that moment, everything else fades. You feel small, but safe. Undone, but at peace. There’s no need to explain it—you just know you’ve been touched by the presence of God.

It doesn’t knock you over. It draws you in.

And from that moment on, you’re never the same. Because once your spirit recognizes that kind of nearness, you begin to hunger for more of it.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8

You might be thinking, “I’ve never felt anything like that.” And maybe that’s true. But that doesn’t mean you can’t.

This kind of closeness isn’t reserved for pastors or the deeply spiritual. It’s not for perfect people or prayer warriors or those with some kind of special access to God. It’s for anyone who’s willing to surrender. Anyone who will seek Him—not casually, but with a heart that wants Him more than comfort, more than control, more than answers.

God draws near to those who draw near to Him. That’s not just a nice thought. It’s a promise. But we must slow down long enough to recognize His presence—and be willing to lay down whatever’s in the way.

If you’ve never experienced that kind of moment, I’m not here to make you feel like you’re missing out. I’m here to tell you that there’s more. More than you’ve known. And it starts when you surrender.

Now, let me be clear—I’m not talking about some emotional high or a spiritual show. This isn’t about feelings, hype, or getting swept up in a moment. It’s not something you chase—it’s something you recognize.

When something holy brushes against your spirit, it’s not loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s not about outward signs. It’s inward awareness. It comes when your heart is quiet and surrendered—when you’re not trying to create an experience, but you’re simply open to God being as near as He wants to be.

The world has confused emotion with presence, and that’s dangerous. But just as dangerous is living a Christian life that never expects to feel God at all. We’re not called to live by emotions—but we weren’t meant to be strangers to the presence of the One we belong to.

There is a kind of closeness to God that changes how you live. It doesn’t come through routine or religious effort—it comes through hunger.
When you start to want more than just surface-level faith… when you stop being satisfied with just knowing about God and start longing to truly know Him… something shifts.

You begin to recognize when He’s near. You start to hear Him more clearly—not always with words, but with that still, certain knowing deep in your spirit.
Sometimes it’s a whisper. Sometimes it’s direction. Sometimes it’s just the weight of peace that settles in, and you know: He’s with me.

That kind of nearness doesn’t happen by accident. It comes when you live surrendered—and stay surrendered.

There is a kind of closeness to God that changes how you live. It doesn’t come through routine or religious effort—it comes through hunger. When you start to want more than just surface-level faith… when you stop being satisfied with just knowing about God and start longing to truly know Him… something shifts.

You begin to recognize when He’s near. You start to hear Him more clearly—not always with words, but with that still, certain knowing deep in your spirit. Sometimes it’s a whisper. Sometimes it’s direction. Sometimes it’s just the weight of peace that settles in, and you know: He’s with me.

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

That kind of nearness doesn’t happen by accident. It comes when you live surrendered—and stay surrendered.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

I am the author of two books: Embracing God's Wisdom: A Journey of Faith and Reflection and Embracing God’s Wisdom: Paul’s Commands for Victorious Living. Both are available on Amazon.

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler – Dean’s Bible Blog. All rights reserved.

Please reach out at: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service.” (1 Timothy 1:12)