The wonder of the Holy Spirit

Estimated Reading time: 5 minutes · Written by judy moore

At the heart of Christian life is the mysterious, powerful, and deeply personal presence of the Holy Spirit. In our current series, From Weariness to Wonder, we've explored profound themes such as the wonder of the God’s saving grace, the gift of prayer, and the miracle of healing. In this part of the series, we turn to the wonder of the Holy Spirit—a divine companion who brings transformation, empowerment, and deep renewal.

Anchored in Isaiah 40: A Promise for the Weary

We began this journey rooted in Isaiah 40, a passage that has become a spiritual anchor for many of us. The prophet writes:

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak…But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:29–31)

These words, ancient yet strikingly relevant, are God's promise to us today. They speak to our modern fatigue— physical, emotional, and spiritual—and offer the assurance that the Holy Spirit can restore our wonder and vitality.

A Cry of the Soul

Recently at a concert by the band Elbow, there was a poignant moment that resonated deeply: a crowd of people singing the refrain “Oh my soul” into the summer night. Though it wasn’t a worship event, the collective cry echoed the spiritual hunger of our times. As Isaiah cried out for renewal, so too do our souls. In that yearning, the Spirit stirs.

This hunger for something more, something true, is being quietly answered across the UK. People are stepping into churches uninvited, drawn by an invisible pull, asking: “Who is Jesus?” This quiet revival isn’t driven by a person or a programme, but by the Spirit of God himself, gently leading people toward Christ.

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or theological concept. He is a person—the third person of the Trinity—with thoughts, emotions, and a will. He speaks, leads, comforts, convicts, and loves. He is also powerful. Wherever He moves, transformation follows.

In Acts 19, Paul encounters disciples who had repented and followed Jesus but hadn’t yet received the Holy Spirit. When they are filled, their lives change dramatically. They begin to prophesy and speak in tongues; not for show, but as evidence of the Spirit’s real and present work in their lives. The Holy Spirit touches hearts and reorients them toward Jesus, awakening courage, compassion, and a calling to share the good news.

For the Uninformed, the Fearful, and the Weary

The Spirit is for everyone. Whether you're uninformed about who He is, fearful of His power, or simply weary, the Holy Spirit comes gently, lovingly — to refresh and fill you.

For many, the Holy Spirit has seemed either too mystical or reserved for the “super spiritual.” But as Nicky Gumbel puts it, each believer has a "pilot light" of the Spirit, always burning, but sometimes in need of fanning into flame. Whether you’ve been a Christian for five days or fifty years, He desires to empower you anew.

The Spirit makes us more ourselves. As someone once said, “The Holy Spirit doesn’t make me better than anyone else. He makes me better than me.” He enhances who God created us to be.

The Gifts and the Fruit of the Spirit

Yes, the Holy Spirit brings supernatural gifts like tongues, prophecy, and healing. These gifts can seem strange or even intimidating. But at their core, they are expressions of God's love and power for the building up of the Church and for mission.

Some people are gifted in tongues, a language of heaven that enables praise when words run dry. One testimony shared how a Russian woman, deeply wounded by addiction, heard someone praying in tongues in her native language, “Child of God, child of God”, though the speaker didn’t know Russian. Through that moment, she knew she was loved by God. That’s not fanaticism—it’s intimacy.

Others receive gifts of creativity, discernment, hospitality, or healing. One man, gifted in carpentry, built a Christmas tree with words of peace, hope, and joy. He added a QR code linking to the story of Jesus, and over 2,000 people read it. That’s the Holy Spirit at work through wood and wire.

But more than spiritual gifts, the Spirit shapes character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As one young person in our church put it, describing our leaders, “They have a different kind of patience.” That’s the fruit of the Spirit in everyday life.

He Empowers Us to Stand

The Spirit not only inspires praise; He gives strength. He enables us to stand tall, even in struggle. Like eagles soaring on thermals with minimal flapping, we can move through life with the Spirit’s lift rather than our own striving.

The persecuted church around the world exemplifies this. People suffer, yet they rejoice. One believer imprisoned for her faith said, “I couldn’t stop my soul from dancing, even though my feet were in chains.” That’s not optimism, that’s the Holy Spirit.

In our weariness, the Spirit helps us rise above. In our weakness, He is strong.

The Spirit in Our Relationships

Because the Spirit is love, He also brings transformation to our relationships. One beautiful illustration was the story of a couple whose home had doves nesting in the rafters. They noticed that when they argued or slammed doors, the doves flew away, only returning when peace was restored. The wife remarked, “Maybe we need to adjust to the doves.”

So too with the Holy Spirit; His presence is sensitive to hostility, apathy, and sin. But He always returns when we seek peace, humility, and love. He brings reconciliation, not division.

Real Encounters: Power in the Everyday

One of the most powerful stories shared was of a woman who had once practiced witchcraft. After being prayed for by a Christian at her lowest point, she was filled with the Holy Spirit. When she tried to return to her old occult group, the leader told her, “Get away from me. There is a power in you that is too strong for us.” That power wasn’t her own. It was the Spirit of God.

The same power—the very Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead—lives in us. He gives courage when we feel overwhelmed, wisdom when we’re lost, and strength when we can’t carry on. And He is not just for “special moments”; He is our constant companion.

“Come, Holy Spirit”

So how do we respond?

We ask. As Jesus says in Luke 11, “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Whether you're dry and discouraged or full of longing, the invitation is the same: Come, Holy Spirit. Whether you've never felt the Spirit’s presence or simply want to be refilled, the prayer remains: Come, Holy Spirit.

He meets us where we are. In quiet and chaos. In joy and sorrow. In weariness and in wonder.

Prayer for Renewal:

Holy Spirit, come.
Breathe into our dry bones.
Fill our hearts again with wonder.
Empower us to live with courage and compassion.
Make us more like Jesus.
May we soar on wings like eagles—not in our strength, but in yours.
Amen.

The original teaching has been edited for clarity and brevity; This is not a transcript.