People often regard the Holy Spirit as an influence and refer to Him as IT.

This is completely wrong! You cannot have an influence living in you. You cannot have a relationship with an influence.
Whenever Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit, He always spoke about HE or HIM:

John 14:16-17  “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that HE may abide with you forever, “even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees HIM nor knows HIM; but you know HIM, for HE dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:26  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, HE will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
John 15:26  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, HE will testify of Me.”  John 16:7  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send HIM to you.
John 16:8  “And when HE has come, HE will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
John 16:12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  13  “However, when HE, the Spirit of truth, has come, HE will guide you into all truth; for HE will not speak on HIS own authority, but whatever HE hears HE will speak; and HE will tell you things to come.”
John 16:14  “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As a person it is possible for us to develop a relationship with Him!
To know Him as a Friend, Companion and Partner.
We can recommend R.A.Torrey’s book, “The Holy Spirit, Who He is and what He Does”.  This book is available in electronic form from: http://www.gutenberg.org
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