Don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11 (NLT) As Christians, we have everything we need within us to walk in courage and confidence. In fact, if we are to step into people’s crises to lend a helping hand, and if we are to work with Holy Spirit in a powerful way, we need courage and a confidence that’s attractive. It takes courage to speak up at the right time when Holy Spirit leads us. And it takes extra determination to do it in a respectful, contemporary way. The good news is that in Christ we have access to a strength …

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) If you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus. Jesus didn’t condemn people when they did wrong. He never said, “I can’t heal you because you deserve this sickness considering what you’ve done.” Jesus loved people. Period. And He loves you. In Him, you have the right to health, prosperity, joy, peace and so much more. Sometimes we face consequences for our actions, but we can’t point the finger at God. For example, if you jump off of a building, it isn’t God who will break your legs—gravity will. See, your heavenly Father loves …

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. John 14:26 (AMPC) Holy Spirit is not critical of you. In John 14:26, Holy Spirit is not referred to as the judge, faultfinder, nitpicker, condemner or hyper-critic! Actually, this better describes Satan who is known as “the accuser” (Job 1:6, Proverbs 15:11 and Revelation 12:10, AMP). Some believers listen to their negative thinking all day long. Their minds are filled with “I should have,” “I shouldn’t have,” and “What’s wrong with me?” statements. The worst part is they accept the condemnation coming at them because they think it’s …

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:8–11 (NKJV) Learning what Holy Spirit is really like changes everything. Many believers think that Holy Spirit watches them day and night to point out the sin in their life. According to our verse today, this simply isn’t true. This passage of Scripture says that Holy Spirit convinces the world (non-believers) of sin (their need for Jesus). At the same time, He convinces believers of righteousness (our right standing with God in Christ) …

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1 (NKJV) It is incredibly sad how many Christians believe that God is out to get them—the same God who created them and sacrificed His only Son so He could have a relationship with them. I struggled with this misbelief as a teenager and went through a period when I thought that I needed to focus on getting rid of all the sin in my life. Tears would stream down my cheeks as I pleaded with God to search my heart and cleanse me from all of my wicked ways. It all seemed very spiritual, and I mistook …