Life is full of choices. Some are small, like what to eat for lunch, which route to take to work, etc.
Others are major crossroads with lifelong impacts like who to marry, what job to take, or where to live.
With so many options and complex factors to weigh, making the right decision can feel overwhelming at times. We desperately need wisdom and guidance.
As believers, you and I are fortunate to have a powerful source of wisdom and direction – God’s Holy Spirit.
Through His Spirit, God actively leads and guides His children. He wants to direct your paths and reveal His perfect will for your life.
Many Christians struggle to hear God’s voice and often miss His best. Trusting their wisdom, they follow culture, circumstances, friends, or fleeting emotions instead.
In this post, I’ll explore how you can be led by God’s Spirit in making the right decisions and walking the path He desires for you.
1. Desire to Be Led
The starting point is to develop an intense desire and longing to know God’s will for your life.
Do you ache for His direction? Does it weigh on your mind and heart?
Your level of desire reveals how much of a priority discernment is for you. It’s illustrated well in Psalm 40:8 (NIV):
“I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
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Hungering for His guidance shows spiritual maturity. Without desire, you’ll lack the motivation to earnestly seek God’s will.
Your Bible reading will be inconsistent. Your prayers on decisions will be half-hearted. You’ll gravitate to convenient options instead of pursuing God’s best.
When the stakes are high, our desire peaks. Imagine being trapped underwater, running out of breath.
The desperation for air parallels the attitude you need to have in finding God’s will for you.
The Psalmist prayed:
“Teach me, Lord, what you want me to do, and lead me along a safe path, because I have many enemies.”
Psalm 27:11 (GNT)
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Decision-making can bring stress. But your Heavenly Father doesn’t want you weighed down.
Fan the flames of holy desire in your heart. Make knowing and embracing His will your passionate pursuit.
2. Be Willing to Obey
Once you deeply desire His guidance, the next step is to be willing to follow God’s lead wherever He directs.
It’s one thing to want to know His will, but are you prepared to obey Him no matter what?
This obedience component is huge yet it’s often overlooked. God won’t reveal the next step until you’ve followed what He’s already said to you before.
He certainly won’t guide you if you only obey when it makes sense or aligns with your plans.
Say without reservation:
“Lord, even before you show me your will, my answer is yes. I choose to surrender to your ways.”
This attitude aligns with Christ’s example in Luke 22:42 (NIV):
“Not my will but yours be done.”
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Willingness to obey reveals your trust in God. He is perfectly wise, loving, and good.
Therefore, His plans for your life, though possibly difficult or confusing in the moment, are ultimately what’s best for you.
Do you trust God enough to submit to His lordship? Are you prepared to follow Him no matter what?
Cultivate this attitude of unconditional obedience. It’s key to discerning and doing God’s will.
3. Look to God’s Word
God’s Spirit uses Scripture to reveal His will and guide our lives.
The Bible contains the principles, wisdom, and insight to inform our decisions. You’ll find the details of God’s will by understanding His Word.
Psalm 119:105 (NLT) declares:
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
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Regular, thoughtful Bible reading will familiarize you with God’s heart and priorities. The Holy Spirit will then bring verses to mind as you need them for direction.
Jesus promised in John 14:26 (NIV):
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
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For example, say you’re contemplating a business partnership but you’re not sure of God’s will.
Find and meditate on Bible verses about wise counsel, righteous living, and avoiding worldly compromise. These verses will give you the critical guidance you need.
Or if you’re dating someone who doesn’t share your faith, scriptural truths on the right relationships will shed light on a potentially problematic relationship.
Biblical principles as revealed by the Holy Spirit will provide you with clarity.
Don’t wait to hear an audible voice from heaven. Instead, start looking for direction in the Bible.
Let God’s Word light your path daily through diligent study.
4. Ask the Holy Spirit
According to Romans 8:14 (NIV), God’s children should be led by His Spirit:
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
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So how does the Spirit lead?
Primarily by guiding you to biblical truth and helping you apply it to your life. The Holy Spirit can also give you ideas and impressions to direct your steps.
Therefore, humbly ask for the Spirit’s wisdom so that you may discern God’s will.
Pray like this:
“Holy Spirit, I need to hear from You regarding this decision. I ask in faith for your clear direction. Bring relevant scriptures to mind and impart wisdom. I trust you to lead me.”
Asking humbly recognizes your dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency. Asking in faith shows that you expect God to graciously provide insight.
The more time you spend in the Word, in worship, and in prayer, the easier it becomes to recognize the Spirit’s promptings over your thoughts and feelings.
Sensitivity grows as you walk closely with Him.
5. Listen for God’s Response
The final step sounds obvious but is commonly neglected – listen for God’s response after you ask for guidance.
Many Christians shoot up quick prayers and then dart off. Pause and devote undistracted time to hear from God.
Create time to quietly reflect on the scriptures you studied and the impressions you receive.
Throughout your day, pause to ask the Spirit, “Do you want to say anything to me right now?” Then listen without immediately filling the silence.
This listening posture allows God to get through to you and reply. Don’t skip this step if you want to hear clear direction from the Holy Spirit.
You may not recognize His voice if you don’t intentionally listen for it.
Psalm 46:10 (ESV) states:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
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Regularly practice being in His presence and silently wait on Him to tune your spiritual ears.
Key Takeaways
- Desire God’s guidance, be willing to obey, look to scripture, ask the Holy Spirit, and listen to God. These are key steps for discerning His will.
- God wants to actively lead His children by His Spirit according to His good purposes.
- Consistently apply these principles to help you walk the righteous path He has for your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit of God?
A. Being led by the Spirit of God means allowing the Holy Spirit to direct your actions and decisions.
According to Galatians in the Word of God, as sons of God, we are to walk by the Spirit rather than giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Q. How can one walk by the Spirit?
A. To walk by the Spirit is to align your actions to God’s will with the help of the Holy Spirit. This involves seeking the Holy Spirit’s wisdom in prayer, Bible study, and developing the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23.
Q. How do the desires of the flesh relate to being led by the Holy Spirit?
A. The desires of the flesh are in contrast to the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit will not gratify the desires of the flesh, as He guides us away from sinful actions.
Q. Can the Holy Spirit’s guidance lead to a deeper understanding of God’s Word?
A. Absolutely! The Holy Spirit’s guidance will provide insight and clarity into God’s Word.
By allowing the Holy Spirit to work within you, you can gain a deeper understanding of God’s Word and its application in your life.
Q. How does the Holy Spirit within us impact our decisions?
A. The Holy Spirit within brings about a conviction that influences our decisions and actions.
When you walk in the Spirit, your choices will be guided by the Holy Spirit, leading you away from sinful paths.
