Christians frequently talk about God and Jesus Christ but not the Holy Spirit. Why? This should be a critical facet of our belief. If faith was a three-legged stool; each leg would represent God. God, the Creator, God in Jesus Christ and God in the Holy Spirit. Each leg is important. Without all three the stool falls. So, understanding and appreciating the third leg, God’s Holy Spirit is a crucial part of our faith.

Jesus said: “If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” (John 14:15-17)

So, how do we understand and appreciate what Jesus means by this Advocate who will never leave you, the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth? Saint Augustine wrote, “Prayer to the Holy Spirit.” Within this beautiful prayer, I discovered answers and a valuable aid that helps me better understand and appreciate this precious gift of God, the Advocate who will never leave, the Holy Spirit who leads into all truth.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.

The first part of each line points to what the Holy Spirit does: Breathe in me. Act in me. Draw my heart. Strengthen me. Guard me. The last part of each line is what will happen because God’s Holy Spirit is within me: … that my thoughts may all be holy, …that my work too may be holy, …that I love only what is holy, …to defend all that is holy, …that I may always be holy.

In the center of each line of the prayer, in the middle of every part of our daily lives is The Holy Spirit. We stand in awe of God who created the universe. We are forever transformed by Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again. But there is another Advocate who will never leave us, who will lead us into all truth: The Holy Spirit.

As you struggle to live out your daily life; the Holy Spirit is there to breathe into you and act within you. As you battle the day to day temptations that prevent you from being what God wants; the Holy Spirit is there to draw your heart, to strengthen you, to guard you.

O Holy Spirit: breathe in me; act in me; draw my heart; strengthen me; guard me. Today, I want to be guided by You, the “Advocate” Jesus promised. Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit; may my thoughts be more holy; may my works be more holy; may I love only what is holy; may I defend all that is holy; may I always be holy. Amen.

REV. LARRY E. DAVIES can be reached at larrydavies@vaumc.org.