God the Father is “great in counsel” (Jer 32:19), always guiding us in every situation. He counsels us by day and by night (Ps 16:7). “He has counsel in store for the upright” (Prv 2:7).

God the Father has sent us Jesus, the “Wonder-Counselor” (Is 9:5). Jesus counsels us through His Word (see Ps 119:24), through direct personal guidance (see Is 30:21), and through the teaching ministry of His Church (see Lk 10:16).

Jesus and the Father have sent us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit counsels us in practical ways. For example, the Spirit clearly instructed Philip step-by-step in his evangelization of the Ethiopian official (Acts 8:29ff). The Holy Spirit instructs and counsels us in everything (Jn 14:26). He guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13).

Certainly the Lord intends to guide us in our personal lives. However, He expects us to take the gift He gives us and use it to bear fruit (Mt 10:8). He counsels us so that we can give counsel to others. When we received the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and Confirmation, we received “a spirit of counsel” (see Is 11:2; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1831).

So many people have been led astray by ungodly counsel. You may be the only godly counselor some people will ever meet. Therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to increase your spiritual gift of counsel and lead you into contact with those who need it. May your words of counsel have a great, lasting effect (see 1 Sm 3:19).

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