Our Guide

Robert J. Kriegel offers an observation about being leading and being led. He applies some business savvy to churches— “Research shows that the overwhelming majority of Americans (85 percent) are reactive and static, not action, or dynamic, or instinct-oriented. They wait and meet, meet and wait. With a ready arsenal of conservative, conventional wisdom at their disposal, they try to control outcomes in an out-of-control world by waiting.”

In an attempt to correct this inertia, believers in North America are honed to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and lead. What happens when you don’t know which road to take? What happens when we are flung into the environment we are in now, where the light is dim and the directions are confusing? I suggest allowing God to guide you. Do you know the end from the beginning? Do you know what is ‘around the corner’? We need a guide. I believe it’s the desire of every believer to follow God, but what about when it’s dark and you don’t know the way? How do you know it’s Him?

Obviously it’s not always easy to discern the Spirit’s voice. To help, here are some spiritual markers the Holy Spirit uses to guide us. 

He is clear. If there is confusion, it’s not from Him. 1 Corinthians 14.33 says— “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” peace is an off-shoot benefit from the clarity marker. It’s not His will to confuse us in any way.  This is true, especially concerning His will. He has taken a painstaking 6000 years, multi-faceted approach to tell us who He is and what He thinks… why would He make it hard all of a sudden?

He points out and uses scripture. Jesus in John 16.33 when speaking of His Spirit in us— “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” The next 4 markers are brought by this one verse.

He will guide us. He will not control us, but He will guide us. If there is any confusion it is on us, not Him. He is our guide not our controller. This places us solely responsible for our own words and actions.

He is a trustworthy. He is the Spirit of Truth. He guides into truth, and according to what is truth. Therefore, He is trustworthy. He helps us discern between what is true and what is not. he doesn’t guide us away from truth but into it. He’s trustworthy in the details. Like when He explains between what is wise and what is foolish, what is best and what is simply okay. Most of our decisions are not spelled out in the Bible, so we need a guide especially for those times. He can provide an extra-on-the-spot sense of discernment. As you continue to not lean on your own understanding, you will develop a greater sensitivity to his guidance. This should decrease the worry we have about each decision because our guide is always right.

He is God’s mouthpiece to believers. He does not speak of His own. Everything He communicates is of the Father (John 16.33) about Christ and His truth (scripture). When God speaks to you, He speaks through the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit speaks, He does so directly from God, because He is God. He has direct access to our mind, emotions, and consciences because of being in us. In this, He speaks. 

He Speaks. No, it’s not audible, but it is communication from Him (Spirit) to us (in our spirit). What does that look like exactly? Glad you asked. Here is a sampling from Acts for you to peruse through. 

Acts 11.12— “And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:”

Acts 13.2— “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

Acts 16.6— “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,”

Acts 20.23— “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”

It would be difficult to be led by someone whom you did not communicate with. Are you led of the Spirit? That question has implications. One, you and I are expected to be led of the Spirit as we center our lives on Jesus on the daily. As Paul said in Romans 8.14— “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” I want my life to reflect that I am the son of God. How about you? 

Thank you LORD for sending me your Spirit of Truth to guide me. In so doing, you have placed a guard on my mind, and so my attitude and daily walk can reflect you. I stand amazed at your precious gift to me. Guide me please.