“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you… 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.”
“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
“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 go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment...
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” John 14:16-18,26-28; 15:26; 16:7-8,12-14
As Jesus prepared His disciples for His death and departure, He comforted them with the promise of His coming indwelling Holy Spirit. While they did not understand every aspect of this heavenly gift, they had known of the Spirit descending on Jesus at the onset of His public ministry and experienced His power with them. The Spirit himself would unveil fuller understanding when this promise was fulfilled and He was in them. After the shock of the crucifixion, these words would grip and guide them until Pentecost. (Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 24:49; John 7:39; 12:16; 20:9; Acts 1:4-5; 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:14)
The gift and ministry of the Holy Spirit is a boon to our lives like nothing else. A constant Helper, a Counselor of truth to teach and remind us what we’ve been taught and give spiritual discernment, a palpable Comfort, a constant Peace. What trouble is not met by His help, what turbulence not soothed by His otherworldly calm? He is real and lives within us forever! His abiding presence should make a difference in countenance, outlook, and how we handle stress and challenging circumstances.
What areas need His special touch? How might His power transform perturbing irritation, bitterness, regret, anxiety, stubbornness? What specifically in my demeanor or mind habits would I like to be overhauled forever? Would I welcome His abiding, and surrender to all the strength and help He brings?
Spirit, abide in unseen and obvious ways and have complete sway with all of me. Fill me and help me reflect Your glory for others to see and desire.
As the rain and snow 