“He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove” (Matthew 3:16)

The dove is a symbol of feminine humility, peace and mercy, not masculine power, wrath and judgment. When a dove brought an olive branch to Noah, it represented the mercy of God. “Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth” (Genesis 8:11). 

Throughout Christian history, scholars have noted that the Bible portrays God with both masculine and feminine characteristics. For example, the Father and Mother roles fit with how the church related to God: “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31). Feminine tendencies seem to be in Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God”, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20: “Do not quench the Spirit”, Acts 7:52: “You always resist the Holy Spirit”, and Matthew 12:31: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men”. 

 All this to say, you should be sensitive to the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), and be careful to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit because of love. “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:5), so lift your hands in worship “without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim 2:8), “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). 

 “Oh Holy Spirit, help me to manifest your love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”.