Unlocking the Qualities of the Holy Spirit: Beginner Friendly

After accepting the gift that keeps on giving, the Holy Spirit, there are immediate realizations. Surrendering to God comes with constant changes. After all, he is molding us to be more like him. However, without a bit of beginner knowledge, we may feel a tad bit unprepared. So here we are, proving that beginner-friendly knowledge.

The Holy Spirit has an insatiable hunger.

The Holy Spirit has an insatiable hunger for everything aligned with God's will. Meditating on the Word, praying, fasting, and being a good steward of our blessings are good ways to feed this hunger. When the spirit is malnourished, the body will feel it as well.

The Holy Spirit is demanding.

God's spirit requires a lot of attention. A minute here or there will not suffice. To fully participate in the will of God, there is a certain level of intentionality required. This is not to be mistaken with a specific order of events, time limit, or location. Without intentionality, it becomes hard to keep up with the demand and more likely to fall back into old habits.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. - John 16:13

The Holy Spirit has no fear.

Unlike the flesh, the Holy Spirit has no fear. There is no reason for God to fear. I was going to try to write more, but it really is that simple. Accepting God as savior acknowledges that he created everything, knows everything, and controls everything. So, he needs not to be afraid. He does not experience a state of unknown, nor can anything harm him because he is outside of creation. Understanding this provides a window into why God continually asks us not to fear.

"The Holy Spirit's main ministry is not to give thrills but to create in us Christlike character." - J. I. Packer

Conviction comes almost immediately.

There is no other feeling like being corrected by the Holy Spirit. It is a firm but loving correction. Whether we will agree with the prompting is neither here nor there. Once the conviction is shared, the decision becomes ours. This is the challenge. Will this be a situation of repentance and obedience, or will pride show its ugly head?

The beauty of being convicted by the Holy Spirit is acknowledging that the correction is not for boasting by God. Instead, it is a direct benefit to us. God is literally explaining things that will not work in eternity. He is preparing us to enjoy everlasting life with him.

The Holy Spirit has a predetermined agenda.

The Holy Spirit has a plan and instructions. He will not put down the standards of God to appease the flesh. Therefore, there is no sense in trying to override the decisions and instructions from the Holy Spirit. Also, we would like to caution against adding to what God has told you (e.g., Eve added a few words to God's instructions and subsequently aided in the eviction from Eden).

God's spirit is complete, lacking in nothing. I believe you can offer suggestions to the suggestion box, but if your requests don't align with God's will, they will remain just suggestions. When accepting the Holy Spirit, you have to remember that you are no longer in charge, and it's the best thing that will ever happen to you.

Less concerned about what we think or want: The Holy Spirit knows better.

The Holy Spirit is overly concerned with your eternal state. He is concerned with our whole being, not just what is relevant to us today. Therefore our feelings may not be the most prominent concern. When we are hurt, we will receive comfort. When danger threatens, God is with us. When, if, or how a situation changes depends on God's will.

The spirit of God is well aware of what you need and how to move you forward according to God's plan. Thus having the Holy Spirit does not always keep the pain away. Instead, he provides strength for when the pain arrives.

Wrapping it up

There are so many beautiful characteristics and responsibilities of the Holy Spirit that we barely scratch the surface. There are levels of unimaginable wisdom that are unlocked by the presence of the Holy Spirit. So let us continually surrender and seek understanding.

As Always,

Plant a Good Word

Has the Holy Spirit changed anything in your life? Comment below.

---

King James Version (KJV) Public Domain