Life can get confusing. We don’t know which way to turn, how to handle a situation, or know our purpose in life. The good news is, that once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior and receive the Holy Spirit, we no longer need to try to figure out life on our own. The Holy Spirit leads us through life if we allow Him to. When we consult God and the Holy Spirit about decisions in our lives, God will answer, and the Holy Spirit will lead us in the way we should go.
Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10, NASB
Psalm 143:10 is a good verse to memorize. Each morning if we would go into the presence of God and pray this verse, how much less drama we would have in our daily lives. When the Holy Spirit leads us on level ground, and we follow, then we are following God’s will for our lives for that day. We must dedicate each day to following the Holy Spirit so that we don’t stray from God’s will. There are so many distractions in this world, that it is easy to lose sight of the level ground the Spirit is providing for us. Committing ourselves each morning to being taught the will of God is a good way to make sure we are keeping our lives on level ground.
Paul explains more concerning how we can easily get distracted from God’s will for our lives. He writes to the Galatians not about how the distractions of the world can lead us astray, but he writes about how our own personal desires can lead us astray. Paul gets downright personal here.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galatians 5:16-18
Paul plainly states that the desires of the Holy Spirit and our own fleshly desires are at odds. So then, how can we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading? Paul tells us in verse 18 above: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. In other words, when we cave in, follow our own desires, and sin against God and the Holy Spirit, we can trust in Jesus’ saving power. Because Jesus sacrificed His life for us, we can repent and ask forgiveness, and be covered by Jesus’ blood. This means Jesus’ blood covers us in the presence of the Holy Spirit as well. How beyond grateful we must be that Jesus died to cover our shortcomings so we may be seen as holy by God!
Indeed, when we receive the Holy Spirit, our whole identity changes. We are not just God’s creations, we become His children. We enter into a familial relationship with the Most High God.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14, NASB
With such confidence then, we can face each day and each trouble in our lives. When life gives us crossroads and we don’t know which way to go, we can know for certain when we consult the Holy Spirit. He will always lead us in the way God wants us to go. Even when the way in which we are being led may seem foolish, if we listen to and obey the Holy Spirit, God will always protect our way and provide for all our needs because we are His children.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13, NASB
Because the Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity, what He speaks to us comes directly from God the Father. This is how we know the Spirit always speaks truth. He can do nothing else.
What’s more, is that the Spirit will show us what is to come. Now before you pray for the Spirit to tell you which horse will win the race so you can win big, this is not what John meant when he wrote that the [Spirit] will disclose to you what is to come. The Holy Spirit does not give us psychic powers. However, when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, s/he may prophecy, and thereby speak what God wants us to know about His will to come. But more concrete, we are blessed to have God’s Word written. And it is through this Word that we know what is to come. We know how God’s plan plays out in the future. We know God will overcome evil for one last time when He defeats Satan once and for all. We know that as God’s children we will be able to live forever in the presence of God in a place God is currently preparing for us. Without a doubt we know we will be loved and provided for by the one true God.
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. Revelation 22:17, NASB
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