Dr. Helen Titilola OLOJEDE

There is no better time to pray for the gift of counsel than now that a new year has just dawned on us. Counsel is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So, what is counsel? I would like you to think of it as having someone who guides you and helps you figure out the right thing to do. This person could be your counsellor in school, parent, spouse, mentor, or friend. The gift of counsel is similar to the role any of these persons play in your life. But here's the beautiful part- the gift of counsel is from the Holy Spirit. It is about being personally directed by God to discern what is right. It helps us to listen to the Spirit and guides us to make good decisions and choices or behave well. The gift of counsel helps us to judge when something is evil and to recognize the bidding, goodness, will and God’s love for us.

 

The gift of counsel is especially important because there are times when what is right or wrong is not so obvious. Sometimes, we are in a dilemma, and we truly do not understand what is right or wrong in a given situation, which is sometimes called a moral dilemma or confusion. What in your life do you need the gift of counsel for, right now? Or times in the past when you were not sure what the right decision was? The gift of counsel gives us a Godly, Biblical perspective in a world saturated with relativism. The best part is that it is not just a theoretical concept- there are practical ways we can live the gift of counsel in our everyday lives.

Study the Bible (join a Bible study group, get on a Bible podcast).

Learn about the moral teachings of the Church (read CCC, ask questions, listen).

Develop the habit of turning to the Holy Spirit for guidance all the time, especially when you are in a fix.

Practice ejaculatory prayer (spontaneous prayer) throughout the day, invoking the Holy Spirit. You may consider praying on the hour.

Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.