My girlfriend and I were visiting Scotland and the bus had just dropped us off in Glasgow.

We knew our hostel was down the road a few miles so we started to walk. Soon night fell and we still weren’t there.

Then we spotted a police station. With relief, we told the officer our dilemma.

“If you were my daughters, you wouldn’t be out here after dark!” he said. “I have a room for you tonight.”

He led us to the empty cell where drunks were kept. It was clean, though sparse, and we felt comforted behind those locked doors.

The comfort of prayer requesting the presence of the Holy Spirit Counselor is like that. When we love God and keep His commandments, a door of safety opens up to us — a place of comfort. We are surrounded by walls of spiritual protection, which was God’s intent when He gave us His ten rules to follow.

When we obey God, He can act on our behalf in greater ways. Obedience enables us to grasp truth and to actually be inhabited by the Holy Spirit, the Counselor who can guide us through the maze of living and help us see beyond our present circumstances.

The Holy Spirit of our powerful God who provides comfort is only a prayer away!