Our Supernatural Helper

Halloween is quickly approaching, and regardless of anyone's personal beliefs, it's costume season. Every year, kids pick out what superhero, cartoon character, or historical figure they want to portray. Most times, these costumes are just flat-out cute. Little kids dressed as puppy dogs, princesses, and cowboys march up and down the streets, getting candy from their neighbors. It's a wonderland for children. Then there's THAT kid. He's dressed as a horror movie character, dripping in blood, with long, gangly teeth and a wicked smile that even gives full-grown adults nightmares. There are the ghosts, witches, vampires, and zombies. All of these portray supernatural characters that are meant to scare anyone they come into contact with.

Why is it that even at a young age, we have a fascination with the supernatural? Why do we have children's shows like Casper the Friendly Ghost, Vampirina with her vampire family, and all the Scooby Doo Episodes with ghosts and demonic activity? Why do so many get caught up in the idea of the supernatural but don't take it seriously when it comes to our faith? As Christians, we have the indwelling presence of God within us, and He goes by the name of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I said "He", not "it." The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. He's not the third thing of the Trinity. The Spirit is literally the presence of God living within us. So what exactly does that mean?

In John 16:13, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, saying, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." The Holy Spirit is our helper, guiding us in truth and empowering us for service. As disciples, we rely on the Holy Spirit to navigate the challenges of this world and live out our faith.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our sanctification, setting us apart for God's purposes. In John 17:17, Jesus prays, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." The Holy Spirit helps us understand and apply God's Word to our lives, transforming us to reflect Christ's character.

That's not all that His influence does in our lives. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." The Holy Spirit empowers us for service, equipping us with spiritual gifts and power to serve the body of Christ and reach the world.

In Galatians 5:22-23, we are given an example of what a Spirit-filled life looks like: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." When we allow the Holy Spirit to take control, this is what our life should look like. The way we handle conflict changes. How we love and discipline our children changes. Our daily interactions will look drastically different when we allow the Holy Spirit to take up residence in our lives.
 
The Holy Spirit also plays a vital role in our prayer life. In Romans 8:26-27, Paul writes, "The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." When we don't know what to say, the Holy Spirit steps in and translates what our hearts are trying to say. His understanding of us is so great that He can communicate our deepest longings, concerns, and distress in ways we can't. When we let the Holy Spirit take over, He guides us in a better way.

As disciples, we're not left to navigate this crazy world on our own. We have a divine helper in the Holy Spirit, who guides us, empowers us, and transforms us to live out our faith in a way that impacts the world. I don't know about you, but I need that. I don't have the ability to do that on my own. I need God's leading, and the Holy Spirit is the one who steps in to do that, and I couldn't be more grateful.