PART 7 - GUIDANCE
I’m of course uncertain how many who have continued to read this far have also continued doing the first step, praying to God. If you have, you may have found it difficult to know what to do, then and there. Attempting to accomplish even a simple and quiet honesty can seem intimidating. Lifting your thoughts and feelings “up” in trying to find God can be so unfamiliar and other. Even a few minutes can start to feel very imposing. What are you supposed to do—what’s good, or helpful, or true, or right? For myself, I’d like to know what Jesus considered most important. He was once asked exactly that, answering:
“Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” -Jesus
Do you remember that highest love, that love that gives sacrificially for the benefit of the loved one? That love we are to have for one another? Jesus says to have that same love for God. But how are we to love God? What does it even mean? Doesn’t that just make it all more confusing? How are we to know what to do when we don’t know what to do? Well, what does Jesus say to do when we don’t know what to do? Here are a few promises He made to his disciples:
“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of all I said.” -Jesus
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” -Jesus
“When they arrest you, do not worry beforehand, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit.” -Jesus
It seems we are not without a guide, a helper, a counselor—the Holy Spirit. Understanding the Holy Spirit is not easy, but Jesus teaches clearly some things the Spirit does. The Holy Spirit prompts us to remember what Jesus said, and can even in certain circumstances give us specific words to speak. The Spirit is “of truth” and leads us into all the truth. But how can this Helper help us? How are we to be guided by our Guide?
You may have noticed I’ve been asking a lot of questions. You’ve found me out; it’s true. But what you might not have guessed is that I’m trying to, in a sense, provoke these questions within you—hoping that maybe you’d even pray these questions to God. Lord, how can I love You? How can I be led? Taking these questions to God is seeking God, and He rewards those who seek Him. So keep asking Him questions. As you need answers, you’ll be given them. But sometimes the answers come “at that time.” Beforehand? Just don’t worry.
So, let us begin. A simple first step is to view the Spirit as the Spirit of Truth. He will not guide us into any hypocrisy. So, if we want guidance, teaching, and help from the Holy Spirit, we need to be seeking truth—He does not, He cannot, lead any other direction than truth. Our hearts need to want to accept whatever is true, even of ourselves, even if it is sorrowful to admit. We must want to reject whatever is false, even if it flatters us and seems to excuse us. When our hearts want truth, the Spirit of truth will guide us into truth. Always, always, be seeking to have this sort of true heart.
The Holy Spirit nudges us from within, reminding us of all Jesus taught, helping us learn from Jesus. And I’ll let you in on a secret: you might think of learning as something done with the mind, but we need to learn from Jesus not in mind only, but in heart, soul, mind, and strength. The Holy Spirit will give you words to say, if needed, but He will also lead your heart to feel all that is in accordance with truth, and draw your spirit to lift up, up to God—up to the God worth seeking, who is Truth.
“All who are being led by the Spirit are sons and daughters of God. You have received a spirit of adoption by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” -Paul
“Abba!” means “Daddy!” And, if you think about it, isn’t “Daddy!” just a perfect example of love—in heart, soul, mind, and strength? If your heart ever cries “Daddy!” to God, you can be sure that it is the Holy Spirit who has led you there.