"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
This scripture paints the picture of the Holy Spirit as a "guide", one who gives continuous direction on a need-to-know basis.
"He will guide you into all truth."
Much of the heartache and frustration we encounter in discerning God's voice has come from wanting direction from Him before He's ready to give it.
The Holy Spirit doesn't give us directions all at once or give us all His directions upfront and then leave us alone to sort it all out. He can be trusted to tell us everything we need to know for now, and then continually update His instructions, as we step out in faith and obey.
Be confident that when it's time for us to know what we need to know, we will. Timing is everything.
While we wait, He wants us focusing on what He is saying in front of us - right now.
In contrast, the enemy's voice will often focus on the past: What we did. What we didn't do. What we've wasted. What's the use?
The enemy will also focus on our future: What could happen. What might go wrong. What others will say. What am I supposed to do next?
A great piece of advice I received from my dad was this: "Sharon, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep walking." He was saying, don't get hung up on what's next, or what God wants me to do. Just do the next thing. Just do what He's called me to do right now.
We get all uptight about the grand scope of God's will for our life, when we just need to do what He's put in front of us at this time.
Nothing catches God off guard or alters His agenda. We need to be faithful at what we are doing now.
If we don't feel assurance in a decision we need to make, then back off. Wait. Stop. Listen.
Our lives are like a giant jigsaw puzzle and only God can see the picture on the lid. He has a full grasp of the entire layout.
His perfect timing and eternal plans are gifts to us that enable us to rest in Him, to enjoy the adventure of following Him. It frees us from the burden of trying to make things happen on our own.
The Holy Spirit:
- Guides us into truth
- Speaks what He hears from God
- Will declare to us the things that are to come
- Glorifies God
- Is our Helper
- Convicts of sin
Our Response
Be filled with the Spirit and let Him be our guide.
Taken from my notes of "Discerning The Voice of God" by Priscilla Shirer
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