The Bible tells us quite a few things about the Holy Spirit. Here’s a few: 1) The Holy Spirit determines the gifts and skills we receive. The Bible says: ‘It is the one and only [Holy] Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have’ (1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT). So if we’re feeling like we’re not good at anything and can’t be used by God, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to show us what our gifts are. 2) The Holy Spirit guides us. The Spirit guides us to where we should be. Where we are matters. During a famine God sent Elijah to the brook Cherith, saying, ‘I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there’ (1 Kings 17:4 NIV). If Elijah had decided he’d rather stay where he was, he’d have missed his miracle. We don’t have to do anything to experience God’s love, but we must know His voice and follow His direction to experience His blessing. 3) The Holy Spirit can be offended. ‘Do not grieve the Holy Spirit’ (Ephesians 4:30 NIV). The Greek word used for ‘grieve’ can also be translated as ‘to afflict with sorrow’ and ‘to experience deep emotional pain’. Our sins cause the Holy Spirit extreme, painful sadness. But we don’t have to live with guilt and shame because of what we’ve done. God promises to forgive us when we repent. 4) The Holy Spirit brings freedom. The Bible says: ‘Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom’ (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV). In God’s presence we can find freedom from the things we feel trapped by. We can overcome the things we’re struggling with.

What Now?

Ask God to make you more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and to make your heart a place where He always feels at home.