After we accept Jesus as our Savior, God’s Holy Spirit dwells within us. It’s difficult to imagine, but God literally lives and abides in our spiritual hearts. That means He is always with us, and He never leaves. God’s Spirit plays a very personal and active role in our lives. 

God’s Spirit also played a role in the act of creating and sustaining the world and has many other jobs apart from His role of God inside of us. In keeping with my other two posts, here’s what the song Wonderful Merciful Savior says about the Holy Spirit.   

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper 
Spirit we long to embrace 
You offer hope when our hearts have 
Hopelessly lost our way.

What a personal impact the Holy Spirit has on our lives. He is able to guide and direct us, comfort us during suffering, and keep us close to the Father. Here are three of the Holy Spirit’s personal attributes that I hope will help us explore His role and nature in the Trinity and our lives. 

 

Breath  

The word for Spirit in Scripture is often described as wind or breath of God. During creation, God’s Spirit hovered over the waters as God’s power going forward to create the world. Even mankind was not alive until God breathed life into him. God’s breath gave life to Adam’s body and spirit.  

“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” 

Genesis 2:7  

God’s Spirit is unseen, but it works in so many necessary ways in our lives to spiritually sustain us. Through His Holy Spirit, God isn’t just up in heaven watching over us, but He is as close to us as our very next breath. In fact, we need Him even more desperately than we need our next breath. He is a powerful wind, stirring, convicting, changing, and guiding us every moment. He is the Giver and Sustainer of life and our constant link to God. May we invite the Holy Spirit to breathe on us once again and be submissive to His movement within us.  

 

Inspiration  

The Holy Spirit inspires us every day by speaking into our thoughts and hearts. Maybe it’s encouragement from a friend, a realization in prayer, or a word that jumps off the page during our quiet time. God’s Word is alive and active, and so is His Spirit. When we’re open to His leading, the Holy Spirit can guide our thoughts and inspire us with exactly what we need at just the right moment. 

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 

 2 Timothy 3:16 

The Holy Spirit divinely inspired human authors to write the very words of God. That reminds us of the Spirit’s identity as Breath but adds another layer. He empowers us to do what we could never do on our own. 

While the inspiration of Scripture is unique to those God chose to record His Word, we still see the Spirit’s inspiration at work in our lives today as He leads us, teaches us, and equips us to serve Him. 

 

Helper  

God’s Holy Spirit helps us in times of trial and triumph. In trial, the Holy Spirit acts as our comfort, bringing peace in anxiety and ushering in the presence of God in our loneliness. In triumph, The Spirit helps us to worship God from a place of joy and gratitude. Whether we’re on the mountain or in the valley, God’s Spirit helps us worship and connect to Him in a way that restores our souls and brings Him glory.  

When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit helps us by interceding for us beyond the capability of our words. He knows our greatest needs and can ask for the things we don’t even know how to pray for. 

Since our spirit is linked with God’s Spirit, our emotions don’t have the final say. When we’re anxious, God brings peace. When we’re afraid, God gives boldness. When we’re doubting, God strengthens our faith. When we’re in pain, God comforts us. When we grieve, God grieves with us.  

“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 that I have said to you.” 

John 14:26 

The Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us, and He helps us remember the truth from God’s Word to help us exactly when we need it. He is God inside of us, coming to our aid as we walk out our lives as Christians.  

Katelyn