Follow the Spirit
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13
Point #2 Be led
If you could hear from anyone, past, present or future to help you navigate life successfully, who would you chose? Would it be someone from the past who had great business sense? Would it be someone from the future who could tell you things that are coming? Maybe someone from today who is successful and famous? What if you could talk to just one person who knew all about the past, present and future? Well, you can, and not only can you talk to Him, you can hear from Him too. Today’s key verse says the Holy Spirit of God can be your guide in life. He will show you things to come when you listen closely and follow His direction.
As a born again, child of God, He has placed His Spirit within you. The scripture says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit inside of each child of God for our eternal inheritance. (see 2 Corinthians 1:22) That same Spirit will lead you through this life in safety and wisdom. When you need direction you can ask and He will lead. When you need protection, ask and He protects. You can draw on the wisdom, power and strength of the Holy Spirit by faith at any time. 24/7. Now that’s a real gift.
But how? How do we hear? It comes from knowing His voice. In John 10:27 Jesus said my sheep know my voice and follow. This is the key. To know the internal voice of God. It starts by hearing His voice in His Word. By taking time to read and learn God’s Word, you become familiar with His character. Just like Jesus said He was the good shepherd and the sheep know His voice. They know the Shepherd because they hang out with Him all day long and He feeds and protects them. He is always looking out for their good and can see ahead of the flock for what is coming up next.
The Holy Spirit is the same way with us. He can see what is coming up and help us to avert destruction and harm. He can also lead us to the “green” pastures if we will follow. Because we cannot see the same things that He can, we may not trust His voice because it doesn’t look like the best path right now. Maybe it isn’t popular or maybe it is not the answer google gives. However, the Holy Spirit knows things even google doesn’t know, if you can believe that.
Today I want to encourage you to first of all if you do not know the good Shepherd personally, invite Him into your life today. Then get to know Him by setting special time aside each day to read His Word, talk to Him (pray) and listen quietly for a minute as you ask if there is anything He would say to you. You probably will not hear an audible voice, (though I won’t say it can never happen) but if He does have something to say, you will hear it come up from the inside. Don’t just dismiss. If you think He might have spoken to your heart, ask Him. . . Lord? Is that you? You can also ask Him to line your heart up with what He might be saying to you and He will. Hearing and being led by the Spirit of God is a long time investment. You have to start right where you are and begin take time learning who He is personally. Lastly, Psalms 37:4 says to delight yourself in the LORD and then He will give or put into you the desire of your heart. Spend time thanking God and rejoicing in the fact that He wants you to hear and know that thoughts and plans He is leading you to. In this way, you will ensure that you enjoy this life and the next.
Pray a prayer like this to receive Jesus as your Lord today: God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior. I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me. Please forgive me for my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new. I know you Son, Jesus died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him form the dead. At this very moment, I accept, confess and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward. Thank you, Jesus for Your grace that has saved me from my sin and has given me eternal life. I now have a right relationship with God my Father. I also ask for Your Holy Spirit to guide and empower me to do the things that You have planned for my life in Jesus name, Amen
Today’s scripture reading: John 10:1-16
The Daily Dose 