THE SPIRIT’S LEADING

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, ‘Abba, Father.’”  (Romans 8:14-15 NIV)

As we go about life, either we do things that open ourselves to the Spirit’s influence in our lives -- which Paul talks about in terms of “walking in the Spirit,” or “sowing to the Spirit” -- or we do things that close ourselves off to the Spirit.  For instance, Paul wrote, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:25-26)

The Holy Spirit is always ready to guide you toward God’s best version of yourself.  Of course, many times I don’t want to be guided!  I want to blow up at someone, or be greedy, or lie to get out of trouble.  I want to quench the Spirit.  The more my habits are formed around resentment or anxiety or greed or superiority, the more often I will quench the Spirit.  It will take time and wisdom for habits to get re-formed.  But the Spirit of God is tenacious.  All that is needed in any moment is a sincere desire to be submitted to the Spirit's leading.
' -- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be”

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