Being led by the Spirit requires putting God’s Word first

Sometimes the Holy Ghost seems to “tackle” you to get you to take a 180 in your life. This has only happened to me twice, once in 1986 just before my mom died, and then nearly thirty years later—just a week and a half ago—as I was preparing for an elective surgery. On both occasions, He used this method to stop me from proceeding with plans that would have ended up harming me in some way (see Double up on the Discerner and Being a prima donna vs. being led by the Spirit).

In fact, after the situation in 1986, I was doubtful I would ever experience the overwhelming oppressive-like feeling again as a guidance technique from the Holy Spirit—and that was just fine with me! I think He only does this sort of thing in extreme cases. Hopefully, I will never need to experience it a third time!

In both of those instances, however, I knew it was important to keep my Bible handy. Hebrews 4:12 states, “ For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” When you are overwhelmed in a decision, whether it’s the rare “Holy Ghost tackle” or the more common human difficulty with determining the best course, you can count on God’s Word to operate as the Discerner. In fact, to neglect the Bible in pursuit of a more personal or “now word” or leading will place you in a vulnerable, easily-deceivable place.

You are called—as a child of God—to be led by His Spirit; but you are also charged to abide in His Word. Counterfeit voices abound; many paths lead to divergent destinies; but only the Word of God will endure forever, and it declares that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—and He commands you to abide in His Word. As you prioritize that Word over every other spiritual voice, you will grow in discerning the often subtle promptings of the Spirit of God. If a counterfeit arises to deceive you, you will be able to pick it out of the “lineup”—and have it arrested and incarcerated—because you’ve been abiding in the Discerner.

For the next few entries, I will be sharing various situations in which the Holy Spirit has led me. You’ll see that His guidance may differ in the way it plays out, but it is never coercive, manipulative, vainly flattering, or contrary to the Word of God.

Until then,

Dorothy

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed… John 8:31b

I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. John 8:12b