Who or What Is the Holy Spirit, And Why Does It Matter?
Ever heard someone mention the Holy Spirit and thought, “Wait…what does that actually mean?”
You’re not alone. For a lot of people—even those who’ve been around church for a while—the Holy Spirit can feel like the most mysterious part of Christianity. Is he like a ghost? A force? A vibe? A feeling?
Gifts That Matter
Let’s start with a simple idea: some gifts are unforgettable. Not because of their size or price, but because of their impact.
When my daughters were little, they were sad whenever I went away for a business trip. But when I came home with a small Beanie Boo or a Littlest Pet Shop toy, it changed everything.
These days, their gift expectations are bigger, more complex (and usually more expensive). One recent example? Throwing a surprise “bed party” for my youngest daughter’s college choice reveal. It’s a social media-fueled event with decorations, balloons, and all-out celebration. Honestly, it’s a little over the top. But we pulled one off, and thanks to a generous friend, we didn’t break the bank.
But my point isn’t about parties or toys. It’s about this idea that when someone goes away and returns, we often give a gift that means something. And while we think that’s something we invented, it turns out this concept goes way, way back. Over 2,000 years, in fact.
What Jesus Promised
The night of his arrest and death, Jesus told his closest friends some hard things: he said he was leaving them, that one of them would betray him, and that one would deny even knowing him.
But he didn’t leave them hopeless. He promised them an incredible gift, the Holy Spirit:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17)
That Helper is who we call the Holy Spirit, and he’s the ultimate gift for anyone who follows Jesus.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Many people find the Holy Spirit mysterious or even confusing. Is he like “the Force” or an invisible energy in the universe?
No. The Holy Spirit is not an “it.” He is fully God and part of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) who exists as one God in three distinct, co-equal persons.
Side note: There’s nothing on earth that is quite like this triune God of the Bible, so we don’t have any analogy that describes him perfectly. For example, I can say I am one person with three different roles as a son, husband, and dad. But I obviously can’t be all of those to the same person.
Or we can look at the three states of matter. Remember the solid, liquid, and gas phases from science class? Each substance has a “triple point”—the exact pressure and temperature where all three phases of a single substance co-exist. (For a cool video of water freezing, melting, and boiling at its triple point, look here.) But again, God remains the same in all circumstances and conditions, so this analogy isn’t perfect either.
Really, none of our comparisons are perfect, but that’s okay. If we could fully explain God, he wouldn’t be much of a God. The mystery points to his beauty, greatness and complexity.
How Do You Receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit?
It begins with saying yes to a relationship with Jesus. One of his earliest followers put it this way:
“Repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
You don’t earn it. You don’t have to reach a certain spiritual level. You simply turn to Jesus and receive. Once you begin a relationship with Jesus, something incredible happens: you are filled with the Holy Spirit. You’re no longer the same person.
Another early follower described the change this way:
“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You might look the same on the outside, but on the inside, God has made you new. His Spirit now lives in you and will never leave.
In fact, 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Before Jesus, God’s presence resided in a physical temple. Now, his presence lives in us, and not just symbolically. It’s for real.
What the Holy Spirit Does in Our Lives
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide, teach, comfort, and remind us of his truth. In the original Greek, the word for “Helper” is Paraclete, which also means Advocate, Counselor, and Comforter.
Here’s what the Holy Spirit does in our lives:
- Teaches us what’s true
- Brings Scripture to mind right when we need it
- Provides supernatural peace in chaos
- Gives us power to live out our faith
- Produces fruit in our lives that reflect God’s character
That “fruit” is described more in Galatians 5:22-23:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Let’s be honest—those don’t come naturally, especially in conflict, stress, or heavy traffic. (I’ve lived most of my driving life in California, and now in Texas, I call my road issues “road restlessness.” It’s a great way to check if I’m operating in the Spirit or just on edge.) When I’m short on patience or peace, I know I need to connect with the Holy Spirit.
Daily Living in Step with the Spirit
Receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t a one-time event—it’s the start of a daily walk. Scripture invites us to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), meaning we live in ongoing awareness and surrender to his leading.
Here are a few sample prayers and reflection questions to practice being aware of and surrendered to the Spirit throughout the day:
Morning prayer
Holy Spirit, I welcome you today.
Fill my mind.
Guide my steps.
Help me see what You see.
Be my strength, my peace, my friend.
I trust You. Lead me.
Prayer pause (midday, or any other time - just 30 seconds of stillness can reset your heart)
Holy Spirit, what are You saying to me right now?
What do You want me to notice?
Evening Reflection
Where did I sense your help today?
Where did I miss it or forget to lean on you?
What am I grateful for?
Evening Prayer
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for walking with me today.
Grow my awareness. I want to know you more.
This kind of daily connection transforms how we work, parent, lead, serve, and relate to others. The Holy Spirit is how we live out the mission Jesus gave us to love others like he loves us. And let’s be clear: Jesus’ kind of radical, forgiving, selfless love isn’t possible through mere human effort. We need supernatural strength for this supernatural calling.
You’re Not Alone
Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years or are still figuring things out, know this: you don’t have to do life on your own. The Holy Spirit is not a concept to understand. He the ultimate gift, the Helper who empowers you and will never leave you.
So let’s receive the gift, and rely on the Holy Spirit throughout the day. When we do, our lives—and the world around us—will never be the same.