We live in a time when you can ask your phone or computer almost anything, including deep, spiritual questions. Wondering what to preach about? Just ask ChatGPT. Struggling to understand a Bible verse? There’s an app for that. Need comfort? There are AI chatbots that try to listen. But as we navigate the rise of AI and the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives, it’s worth asking: Are we turning to the right source for true guidance?
It’s amazing technology can offer so much, yet it also gives me pause.
Because here’s the thing: the Holy Spirit is supposed to be our guide, our teacher, our comforter. Jesus promised that the Spirit would teach us all things (John 14:26). That means, no matter where we are in life or faith, the Spirit is there to speak to us personally, not just give generic answers, but touch our hearts in a way no AI can.
But how often do we stop and really ask the Holy Spirit to lead us? To open our eyes and soften our hearts? Instead, it’s tempting (I’m guilty too) to grab the easiest, quickest answer — to outsource our spiritual growth to technology. Because it’s convenient. Because it feels like a safe shortcut.
What worries me is when that convenience becomes a replacement. When pastors skip prayer and preparation, relying on AI to draft sermons. When believers stop listening to their own quiet, spiritual nudges and instead search for the “right” explanation from a bot. When we forget that faith isn’t just about knowledge, it’s about relationship.
AI can be a tool. It can help us research, get ideas, and learn facts. It’s not the enemy. But it’s not the Holy Spirit.
No chatbot can pray for you, weep with you, or gently convict your heart in a way that changes you from the inside out.
The Spirit speaks in whispers, in stillness, in moments when we slow down and open ourselves to God’s presence. That’s something no algorithm can replicate.
So maybe this is a little reminder for me and you:
Use technology. Use AI. But don’t let it replace the quiet, sacred space where the Spirit moves.
Don’t ask a bot for the comfort that only God can give.
Don’t lean on quick answers and forget the lifelong journey of seeking His voice.
Because the Holy Spirit isn’t just a source of information. He’s a living, breathing presence — a Teacher, Counselor, and Friend who wants to meet you, uniquely, right where you are.
And that? That’s something truly irreplaceable.
