If I had to go back in time and tell my 14 year old self one piece of advice, it would be this: trust the Holy Spirit. But what does that look like? What does it mean to trust the Holy Spirit? I will make no claim to be an expert, but this is what I’ve learned so far.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit seems mysterious in many ways. He is the third person of the Trinity, and is “made of the same stuff” as God the Father and the Divine Son. He is God. Not a lesser member of the Trinity (that would be heretical), nor is He currently in retirement (also heretical).
I want to say that He is misunderstood, but that feels like a ridiculous statement because this is the eternal, self-sustaining, creative God. We are not capable of fully, perfectly understanding any aspect of God. Whatever glimpse we know of Him is just that – a glimpse. He is bigger and greater and far more than we know, and that is a comfort to me, because I would not want to worship anything or anyone I could fully comprehend. But what He does reveal to us is consistent throughout Scripture and throughout history.
Whenever the Holy Spirit is mentioned, I think most people think of the highly charismatic experience – dancing, shouting, clapping. While I think it is entirely possible to worship God this way (David did, after all. 2 Samuel 6:12-22), sometimes we believe that it is either wrong to praise God like that, or we aren’t truly praising God unless we dance before Him.
We forget the Holy Spirit is active in our daily lives, not just in high-energy moments or when we sit silently in contemplative prayer at church.
But how can we discern the Holy Spirit is leading us in something, and not our own “self talk?”
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are five ways I’ve learned to discern the Holy Spirit:
1. Read the Bible.
The Holy Spirit inspired men to write the Bible. Not the kind of “inspired” Christian authors today experience, but a distinct “thus says the Lord” inspiration. Every single word is the Word of God. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16) To listen to the Holy Spirit, we need to fill our thoughts with the Bible so He can bring those passages to our minds. We need to read it as a comfort, an exhortation, a two-edged sword. We need to study its context, culture, history, and language. We need to listen to it being read. We need to memorize it.
2. Pray.
The Lord wants us to draw near to Him, and the King of kings draws near to us. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions….Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:3, 8) Our whispered prayer for the people in the wreck we pass on the highway, the prayer for the person whose socks we just folded, the desperate cries in the middle of the night. Whenever we talk to God, our priorities begin to align with His.
3. Repent.
Too often, if I feel guilty, I make excuses for thought processes or behaviors and pretend those excuses will bring peace. But that is a counterfeit of true freedom. When I am honest before the Lord and confess my failure, He never fails to forgive. No longer do those sins bind me in shame. His is a peace that is True and Real and Lasting. “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.’” (John 8:34-36) A heart that is quick to seek forgiveness is slow to succumb to pride.
4. Be sensitive to the small things.
One day when I was a teenager, we went to McDonald’s for lunch. I saw a man who appeared to be homeless sitting at the outdoor tables. The thought entered my mind that I should buy him a quarter pounder meal, but I didn’t. I’ve regretted that for the rest of my life, and have since repented. But this taught me a valuable lesson – when you notice something small and feel prompted to do something about it, just do it. In my experience, that’s the Holy Spirit. “‘One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.’” (Luke 16:10)
Sometimes I’m prompted to hold my tongue instead of speaking with rudeness. Sometimes I’ve asked a question or spoken up. Sometimes I’ve purchased other people’s food. I’ve noticed the Lord uses those small things to make me more tender towards what Jesus cares about. This sanctification is the Holy Spirit leading.
5. Seek wisdom.
There will be times we must make big decisions in life, and when we do, it’s okay to need a perspective other than our own. It doesn’t mean we aren’t a good enough Christian; Scripture actually tells us it is wise to seek wisdom. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)
It is important who you ask, though. I hope you have a mentor in your life who knows you and the Lord really well. As you both walk with God, when a big decision arises, often there will be unity between you. It is very rare for a Christian to not have at least one godly person affirm – or rebuke – a decision. This doesn’t mean every Christian you know will agree with you, nor does it mean that you are always right. But that is the point – to gain discernment from a godly source. If the decision is in alignment with the Bible, and someone who truly knows you and Jesus agrees with you, it is okay to move forward in obedience.
Obedience is taking the next right step.
When I moved out from my parent’s house, I was independent in a way I’d never been before. I realized I was reliant on the Holy Spirit’s leading every moment, because nearly every moment felt like another decision. I wanted His leading to be very clear, and as I begged for His help and read His words, He pointed me to these five truths. I’ve clung to them desperately, but not perfectly. I have failed many times, but “He is faithful and just to forgive us.” (1 John 1:9) We confess, and we are set free to try again, to know Him more deeply than we did before.
With grit and grace,
Whitney