5.18.2026 - Scott Elgersma

Monday, May 18, 2026

The Holy Spirit as Counselor

John 14:16-17

As you enter your time with God today, take a moment to quiet your mind. Breathe this prayer: “Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill me with your Spirit. Open my heart that you might share your words of life with me.”

We read today from John 14:16-17. Read the passage now or at the end of this devotion. What does this passage teach us about the Holy Spirit as our Counselor?

A great gift that we might both regularly give as well as receive in our relationships is the gift of a “Good listening ear”. I put that phrase in quotation marks because there is a difference between a listening ear and a good listening ear. A listening ear is present while another speaks hearing and receiving information. A good listening ear is not only present, but active in what is heard and engaging with the received information in a constructive manner through clarifying questions, and helpful affirmations. 

The goal of listening is not just in hearing what is spoken but affirming to the speaker that what they have said has been both heard and understood. While there is much more to the task, those who have this ability often provide the best counsel. One is open to the wisdom a good listener offers because the listening has helped them feel valued. 

As we enter the season of Pentecost, we want to understand more about the Holy Spirit’s work of being our Counselor. Today, we will affirm that one gift we receive from the Holy Spirit is not just in the “listening” that the Spirit does in our relationship with God, but also in the hearing and understanding. Truly, no one knows us better than the Spirit of the Living God.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (counselor) to help you, and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

The word translated “advocate” here is often translated as counselor. It holds the meaning of one who holds knowledge and intercedes because of that knowledge. From our above discussion, the Holy Spirit is counselor because he knows and understands us in the depths of our being and advocates for us from that knowledge. It’s striking that the text notes that the world does not have the Spirit specifically because of a lack of knowledge.

For us, the Spirit’s presence and intimacy with us brings us a multitude of benefits.

We are never alone. The Counselor is always with us. 

In the presence of the Counselor, we come to know more of God.

The Counselor is a gift of Christ requested specifically of the Father for our sake.

Through the Counselor, we are in the presence of the truth, the primary weapon against the attacks of Satan and sin.

The Counselor is not simply with us, but within us. No part of us is not known and in the process of being redeemed by the Spirit. 

Because the Counselor knows us, he advocates on our behalf for what we need, not just what we want. The Counselor gives us every good thing even when we may not use that definition.

The list of benefits could continue, but the implication is clear; because of the Holy Spirit as Counselor, we are known and beloved of God with access the all the blessings we could ever want. In his knowledge of every part, he brings God’s power of transformation to us.

Give God praise for the Holy Spirit as Counselor. Even as you speak your worship, it is the Spirit equipping you to the task.

What a gift!

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his smile towards you and give you his peace.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

I love you all. Blessings.

Feel free to share this devotion with others.

To contact the author, please email: elgersma@therivercrc.com