This was an excellent book. I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Jesus promises in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. In John 14:26 Jesus promises to send us a paraklete. Some bible versions translate this as "helper", others as "counselor". On an intellectual or theological level, we all know this. But what does that look like on a more practical level? This book answers that question.

The first way Seeley does this is by emphasizing that the Holy Spirit is our companion. She says the best translation of paraklete is actually, "one called alongside to help." All too often, we see the Holy Spirit as either some mysterious force or else we see Him only through the lense of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. One of the ways Alex Seeley tries to help us overcome this mental roadblock is by removing the "the". Instead of a title "the Holy Spirit" Seeley constantly uses the name "Holy Spirit." This was a little off-putting at first, but it does make sense.

The second way is how Seeley shows the Holy Spirit isn't in the business of behavior modification but pulls up the root issues to create lasting healing. She writes: Feelings and emotions are great servants, but they are terrible masters. While they can be important tools and often alert us to something deeper, they can also be unreliable guides that lead us into dark places of despair, destruction, and depression. This is why it is crucial to become Spirit-led as Christ followers. We have a spirit man inside us who, when submitted to the lordship of Christ, will help us overcome all temptations, struggles, and controlling mindsets. We must know the truth and the truth will set us free.

I admit I was a bit skeptical when first getting into this book because of past negative experiences. Shortly after college, the District for my Denomination generously offered to send me on a three day retreat to see a Christian Psychologist in another state. I had issues of guilt and depression surrounding the death of my father a few years before. Although the intentions were well-meaning, that weekend only made those issues worse, and I have been skeptical of counseling, even Christian counseling, ever since.

This is not that. What this book writes, and what the Holy Spirit has for us, is soooo different from what I was given and told at that time. God works through godly Christian counselors. And the Holy Spirit truly is the Divine Counselor.

This book is a sweet reminder of the beautiful relationship Holy Spirit is calling us to be in. It is a practical and moving book about the power end gentleness of the Holy Spirit. Alex is a perfect person to write a book about the Holy Spirit because she walks with him so beautifully on a day-to-day basis. I loved the stories and testimonies of how people had been saved and delivered in set free in! It's a book that I will read again and again.
Thank you, pastor Alex for always walking so beautifully with the Lord and sharing it with us!
Thank you netgalley for the arc!

The Divine Counselor is a fantastic book. Alex Seeley does a great job of providing practical ideas and meaningful advice on how to move through the trauma you may have faced, maybe old patterns of thinking, or even if you are only searching for more purpose for your life. Her method of doing this is by the power of the Holy Spirit, but Alex does a very exceptional job explaining the Holy Spirit as a person, the attributes of the Holy Spirit, and a pathway to move forward when we trust and put our faith in the working of the Holy Spirit here today.

I really enjoyed how Alex comes from an experience where she is able not only to provide a pathway to these things, but herself has walked the road dealing with many issues personally. Nothing makes for advice than someone who has actually walked a broken road and continues to find strength moving forward with the help of the Holy Spirit. She is very open and real about her emotional healing and spiritual growth using the Biblical truth.

The only thing I noticed I would recommend is maybe in areas where you are writing and you quote scripture to make sure you document the scripture. Most Christians who are familiar with the Bible will pick up on these points, but for a new believer they may feel its the authors words not something in the Bible. This is only a recommendation, definitely not a criticism as I loved this book.

I would recommend this read to anyone looking to grow in their walk as a Christian here in 2025. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for sending this book to me. All opinions are my own.

This book was really timely for me. I believe it was no coincidence that I got this book to read in this season. The book challenged, encouraged and created hope in me. The book is very practical and gives practical advice on how much more you can rely on the Holy Spirit and how you can practice hearing his voice. I definitely recommend this book to every Christian who wants to deepen their relationship with God and learn to listen to the Holy Spirit better.

Really enjoyed this book at this time in my life when so many things seemed to have gone wrong. It was encouraging and challenging to me! I think it'll be a help to anyone.