You Must Be Led by the Holy Spirit | Knowing His Voice is Everything

When it comes to math, the basics are this: add, subtract, multiply, and divide. You can do pretty much anything when you know those four key components—but you have to know how to use them. 

Last year during math, I found that I needed quite a bit of help to understand the concepts that were being taught to me, for although I had the textbooks, they didn’t necessarily answer my unique and specific questions about what I was learning. 

I could look at past questions I’d seen or done myself and try to draw conclusions for the solutions I needed. On occasion, I’d guess right, but very rarely did that happen. I realized that I didn’t know what I was doing and was blindly shooting into the dark.

I needed some assistance. Desperately. What I had just wasn’t doing it for me. 

How often does this happen to us in real life? So many times I feel like I am capable of doing something, but I just need a little guidance, direction, and answers.

This is who the Holy Spirit wants to be for us: our guide! We’re told that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth, and speak to us on the Father’s behalf (John 16:12-14).

Romans 8:14 reminds us that all who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. In order to be led by the Spirit…we need to be listening for His voice. 

Even Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1).

I must say, I love formulas—so when everything isn’t cut + dry and I don’t always know what to do, it can frustrate me.

For example, Jesus said in Mark 16, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” 

Does that mean we have to share the Gospel with every single person we see at any given time? I don’t think so, but let me explain what I mean. I never want to be known as one who tries to explain away Scripture or interpret it based on what I want to believe!

You see, Jesus didn’t always go into synagogues and explain to the Pharisees why they were wrong and He was right. He avoided going into Judah at one point because the Jews were trying to kill Him (John 7:1). There were places Jesus didn’t go and things He didn’t do. Not because He couldn’t, but I believe it’s because He knew that wasn’t what God wanted Him to do at that time. 

Isaiah 30:21 says, “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.”

The cool thing about this is that there are no strict rules and ways when it comes to how God speaks to you and me! It can be a thought that pops into your head, an image that flashes across your thoughts, or a Bible verse that comes to mind. 

It’s special, because God knows us so well, and He knows how we’ll best hear from Him and understand. Isn’t God so personal with us?

But now that we’ve established how important it is to hear from God, there’s the nagging question in the back of our minds that almost always goes, “Was that really God?

Here are a couple of thoughts for you if you’re wondering if you’ve truly heard from God, or if it’s simply your imagination— or worse: the enemy. 

1 John 4:1–3 says to do this: test the spirits. As confusing and even odd it may seem, this is literally what the Bible says to do! The passage says we are to address the spirit who gave us a thought and ask them if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth in the flesh. If they answer yes, it was God. If they refuse to acknowledge this truth, it wasn’t from God.

The next thing you can do is ask God for wisdom and clarity about what you think He’s wanting you to do. James 1:5 says, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

This is a promise from God— And He doesn’t break His promises! He will give you an answer.

The last thing I would recommend is this: test what you heard with Scripture. Does it conflict or go against anything the Bible says? If so, then this wasn’t God.       

In conclusion, I want to encourage you with this today: God has great plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11), and if they aren’t laid out crystal clear in the Bible— which they probably aren’t— He will show you everything you need to know, from who to marry to which career to choose to what kind word to say to the cashier at your local grocery store.

But I was reminded by Him yesterday that He gives us what we need as we need it, and that’s part of what helps us to walk by faith— He’s not too late, and not too early.

When you need wisdom, take time to intentionally ask God for wisdom, and expect an answer. 

One of the things I’m working on is consulting with God before making any plans, big or small. I encourage you to do the same— you’ll be shocked at what you see in your life when you’re led by God’s Spirit!

Now, I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Have there been times in your life where God has shown you something that was life changing for yourself or others? Or something encouraging? Or something that demonstrated His love for you? I really enjoy sharing stories and encouraging one another (: