The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

—John 16:7

It seems strange to us that it could be better to have the Holy Spirit than to have Jesus standing right beside us. We often think of the Holy Spirit as a mere figurehead—a nice thought, but not very practical.

But the Bible says that the Holy Spirit will:

• give us wisdom, skill, and gifts for his work (Exodus 31:2–6; Deuteronomy 34:9; 1 Corinthians 12:7–12).
• speak through us (2 Samuel 23:2; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
• direct our steps (1 Kings 18:12; Psalm 143:10; Acts 13:4; Acts 16:6).
• always be with us (Psalm 139:7).
• convict of us of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
• guide us into all truth (John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13; 1 John 2:27).
• reveal the will of God (John 16:13).
• intercede when we don’t know how to pray (Romans 6:26–27).
• give us power to resist sin and be transformed into a new man (Romans 7:6; Romans 8:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:16–26).
• bring us life (eternal) and peace (Romans 8:6).

But we can also quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We lessen his power in our lives and give the devil a foothold by:

• not obeying the Word (John 15:10,14; Acts 7:51).
• holding on to anger (Ephesians 4:26–27), bitterness, and unforgiveness (Ephesians 4:30–32).
• continuing in willful sin (Isaiah 63:10; Galatians 5:16–26).
• neglecting spiritual service and gifts (1 Corinthians 14:12; 2 Timothy 1:6).

The Holy Spirit will become more and more real and powerful to us as we wholly submit our lives to him in obedience.

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