Thursday
GOOD COUNSEL NEEDED
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13, ESV)
Theme: The Holy Spirit is our counselor.
BIG PROBLEMS
Our current climate is full of political divisiveness, racial tension, discontent, anger, and injustice. When I recognize there is a problem I can’t fix, I know I need a good counselor. If we don’t suspect we have biases and misguided opinions, I wonder if we have blocked out the Holy Spirit? The global Church, too, is suffering a crisis of identity. Some people are leaving churches; others are deconstructing their faith or abandoning faith altogether.
Some see a major rift; others think everything is fine. Some are anxious to announce political leanings from their platform, while others feel addressing issues like injustice can wait or should be more subtle.
ACCEPTING HELP
I have always cared about people of color on a personal level. Maybe you do too? They are my friends, family members, and classmates. Admitting I have been blind to racial bias, micro-aggression, and injustice in my country and my culture, including even in my church, isn’t easy for me. What I realize is that just because I mean well doesn’t relieve me of responsibility. A few years ago, my Life Group studied Be the Bridge (Morrison, Latasha, 2019). I didn’t think I’d have to confront much of my own ignorance or apathy. I just wanted to help and didn’t know how. What I learned is that justice and equality are my battles, too. Those in a position of privilege and power must take up the cause of those who are not. I believe the Holy Spirit counseled me and used others to bring me to a place of empathy and greater understanding. Things I didn’t notice before have become undeniably clear.
NEED COUNSEL
I am grateful to the women of color in my Life Group who are patient, thoughtful, and willing to answer my stupid questions. The words that needed to be said didn’t need to come from me. I remain unqualified. Without lived experience, I couldn’t help but say it all wrong. I’d pray before we met that God would help me to speak and listen when I should. The Holy Spirit is a kind counselor. I knew His promise: “for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12, ESV). Even Jesus relied on the leading of the Holy Spirit! “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1, ESV). There is no shame in
admitting we need counsel, especially when we are in the wilderness.
Make it Personal: How has the Holy Spirit been your counselor? What role does a counselor play? Why might depending on the Holy Spirit for counsel be different than your usual response? (This does not mean a professional therapist is not needed. Both kinds of counsel are valuable.) Let this be a reminder that the Holy Spirit is provided to us as a counselor. We can (and should!) turn to Him for wise counsel.
Pray: God, please send the Holy Spirit to counsel me. Please help me to care about others and to listen well. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit and to know the Truth. I want to act on what You are telling me to act on and be still when You lead me to be still. Thank You for providing what I need in the salvation of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Help me to turn towards that provision when I need advice first, not as a last resort. Amen.
Additional Reading: John 16:4-13
Weekly Memory Verse: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25 (ESV)