What are the benefits of having the Holy Spirit residing within you?

The Spirit of God has many roles in our lives. Many of them directly benefit our lives here on earth. Our spirit is forever changed when we are fused with the Holy Spirit. When God decided to gift us the Holy Spirit as a permanent resident in our bodies, he did something unprecedented. Previously the Holy Spirit rested on or in people but it was not a permanent placement. Today we have the continuous benefit of God's Spirit within us. You must, of course, believe that God is your savior and that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the grave. After accepting God, the journey is filled with beautiful conversations, revelations, confidence, and growth.

Increased confidence

Your confidence in God becomes more robust and continues to grow. Usually, when we think of confidence, self-confidence immediately comes to mind. Confidence is the ability to trust in yourself for an outcome or to trust in someone else. Having the Holy Spirit removes the need to trust in ourselves or anyone else. When we trust in God, we can move to a level of trust that considers outcomes and expectations outside of common understanding. This confidence grows with time. The deeper your relationship with God, the more confident you will become. Then you can not only move the mountain but know ahead of time where it should go (and why you're moving it in the first place).

"The Holy Spirit says: You are it. You are God's plan. In a thirsty world, people need to be refreshed. It is a broken world, and people need to be healed. Now get out there and do it!" - John Ortberg

Godly Distractions

You will become distracted by all things related to God, and you won't mind. Distractions are usually something to avoid. However, being distracted by Godly things is common when filled with the Holy Spirit. This distraction comes with various benefits, the main one being that being distracted by God puts things into perspective. Automatically priorities start to shift into their rightful place. Your palate for doing what is right in God's eyes will increase. Also, you will become stronger as an individual. Doing God's will is a journey of continuous teaching moments, and you will grow from each one.

Discernment

Discernment from a biblical standpoint requires the Holy Spirit. There is a direct correlation between having the ability to understand the truth and the roles of the Holy Spirit. You will be able to discern the root of issues and challenges long before they are ever revealed to the masses. This is a phenomenal benefit. God is all-knowing. Why get your information from any other source? No one can unravel mysteries like God. The Holy Spirit will clarify situations, decisions, and thought patterns to benefit your relationship with God. Suddenly, you will feel a sense of knowing without trying. God will gift you insight on topics well before you read it in a book, hear it on television, or see it unfold in your personal life or the lives of others. Discernment is my favorite benefit because I love having access to the source.

"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace." - Romans 2:6

Your entertainment appetite will change

Entertainment has many forms. From television to playing a sport, you will find that your appetite has changed. For example, a preference for action movies may decrease. You may find yourself more sympathetic to the characters. Maybe the fight or action scenes are not as exciting as before. So, before we give 1 star to a movie or thumbs down to a show, let us realize that we require something different. You will start searching for God in everything you do. As our appetite changes, it starts to lean more toward God. If you want to be fulfilled, you have to get closer to the source.

Fruits of the Spirit

You will take on the characteristics of the Holy Spirit and become almost unrecognizable. The attributes of the Holy Spirit are things that come naturally to God. They do not, however, come naturally to human beings. With the Holy Spirit, you have a life coach. With no cost to you, God will help you hone the skills needed to take on new characteristics. Additionally, he will help you to maintain them. The more you display spirit-led character, the more you will resemble Jesus. This is beneficial on earth and into eternity. By being more like God, you can change environments.

"Jesus gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, yet when the Spirit comes, He is loaded with packages! He desires to release much more in us and through us than we could ever imagine. These gifts are given for delivery, not for accumulation. We receive them to pass them on to others." - Jack W. Hayford

There are more benefits to having the Holy Spirit within you, but these stood out clearly in my own life. God is the gift that never stops giving. Being blessed with the Advocate is a win now and into eternity. There simply isn't anything like it. The Holy Spirit is an experience. It is hard to explain an experience because everyone has to embark on their own journey. While I cannot speak for anyone else's experience, my own has been life-changing.

Walk boldly with God. And as always,

Plant a Good Word

Don't forget to leave a comment and share your experience with the Holy Spirit.