Know Your Best Friend

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

What qualities do you look for in a best friend? Most of us are looking for someone to always be there for us; someone who will never leave us, even when everybody else does. We crave relationships in which our friends intuitively know how to comfort us when we hurt, encourage us when we are dejected, and strengthen us when we cannot stand on our own. Yet even the most loyal and dedicated friends will eventually let us down — no human can be an ideal friend at all times. But Christians are blessed with a constant companion who never leaves us and never fails us: the Holy Spirit.

You may underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit by viewing Him as a mere influence in the universe. You may wonder how someone we cannot physically see can be our best friend. The Holy Spirit is a divine person of the Trinity who does the work of the Father and the Son here on earth. Because the Holy Spirit is a person, our relationship with Him is very personal.

The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of believers to help our finite minds relate to the infinite God. He has an intellect, a will, and emotions. He hears us when we call out to Him, and He speaks to the inner corners of our hearts. He is a person who leads and guides; someone who comforts and intercedes. He is more than capable of fellowshipping with us as the truest friend we could ever possibly know.

The Holy Spirit walks alongside us as we mature in our faith. You have probably heard the saying that a man is known by the company he keeps. Christians who keep the company of the Holy Spirit will be known by the fruits of the Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22, 23). Christians filled with the Holy Spirit will be known by their reflections of the peace and joy and serenity of the Spirit. They are able to discern right from wrong through His wisdom and guidance. They will exhibit God-centered, God-honoring, and God-glorifying characteristics.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us each day, we become so conscious of the presence of the Lord Jesus that we feel like we can touch Him. When we are conscious of the presence of Jesus, His Word will fill us, His thoughts will become our thoughts, His standards become our standards, His work becomes our work and passion, His will becomes our will. "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires" (Romans 8:5). And when our minds are aligned with God's, we will truly find fulfillment and purpose in life.

No earthly friend can lead us so closely to the mind of God. Our friends may be wise and godly people, but the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. He is the Spirit of holiness. He is the Spirit of faith. He is the Spirit of praise. He rebukes and corrects us when we begin to wander away from God's commandments. He instructs us and teaches us in the ways of God. "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us" (1 Corinthians 2:12).

But being filled of the Holy Spirit requires our active involvement. We must be on guard against quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us, we cannot ignore Him. "Do not put out the Spirit's fire" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). When He commands us, we must obey. If we continuously quench the Holy Spirit, we will only succeed in silencing His voice. If we habitually disobey the Word of God, we grieve His Spirit. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). The Holy Spirit offers many blessings to us, but we must do our part by listening and obeying.

When we seek to honor the Holy Spirit in our lives we will find the most extraordinary and fulfilling friendship possible. There is no friend on earth like Him.