They had seen their Master die on a cruel Roman cross. One had tried to protect Him from arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, some had fallen asleep while He prayed, and one had denied even knowing Him. Yet He had risen, and they’d seen Him again. Now they clung to each other and to His last words to them: “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before” (Acts 1:4 NLT).

The Gift God promised was His Spirit.

While Jesus was still walking the dusty roads of ancient Palestine, teaching and healing and loving and ministering, “the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory” (John 7:39 NLT). God’s people didn’t need the Holy Spirit with them because they had Christ Himself among them. But when Jesus had to leave them, even then they would not be left alone.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place,” when suddenly, a fresh wind came from heaven and “filled the whole house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:1–2). That fresh wind demonstrated the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus had promised.

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live in the hearts of believers, guiding and empowering them from within.

The Holy Spirit is God’s love gift to you. When you trust Christ, He comes to live in you too, just as He did in those first followers. He empowers you from within also. He is a Counselor, an Advocate, a Helper, a representative of Christ, a Teacher, and the One who reminds you of truth.

God has not left you alone. His Holy Spirit is with you. And His Spirit counsels you when you are confused. He helps you when you are weak. He comforts you when you are sad, and He reminds you of truth when lies bombard you.

Listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice today, for He has not left you “as orphans”; He has “come to you” (John 14:18). Follow His counsel and receive His comfort.