God's Guiding Spirit

How do we really know if we are hearing from God's Spirit? The Bible tells us that we must test the spirits to see if they are from God or not.

1 John 4:1-3 NIV

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Can you remember a time when the Holy Spirit guided you during your life? What was the circumstance and the outcome?

Since 2013 I have noticed that God speaks to me in twos. I get the same message twice in two different ways. I tease perhaps it's because I am hearing impaired, and he wants to make sure I really hear him. So, whenever I get the second message, I always acknowledge it by saying: "Okay God I'm listening & I heard you."

Take time to reflect on the moments when you knew without a doubt that God was directing your steps. Today I want to encourage you to create spiritual markers for each of these events. You may be wondering what is a spiritual marker?

Earlier this week I quoted from the book "Hearing God's Voice" by Henry & Richard Blackaby and in this book, they described spiritual markers as "an event in your life that God has interpreted for you. Whenever God allows an event to take place in your life, whether a failure or a success, allow God to interpret the event for you. You need to do something to remember and rehearse what God taught you through that circumstance." A great way to remember these events is by creating a journal where you write down the date God was working in your life and describe the circumstance.

The reason this is so beneficial is because when you struggle in the future you can look back on these spiritual markers and see how often God has guided you! It will help renew your faith and patience while you wait.

If you pray about a situation, write the date next to your prayer in your journal and when the prayer is answered write that date after it so that you can see how long it took God to answer your prayers. Sometimes He may answer yes and other times no, make sure to record both. Because later on down the road you may gain clarity as to why he originally said no to you and even see the blessing in it.

The Bible records how people created stone altars in remembrance of an encounter they had with God, check out a few examples below!

Noah – Gen 8:20-21

Abraham – Gen 12:7; 13:4; 22:9

Isaac – Gen 22:13-14; 26:24-25; 28:10-22; 35:1-7

Moses – Ex 17:15-16

Joshua – Jos 4:1-7

Gideon – Judges 6:24

Samuel – 1 Sam 7:12-13

David – 2 Sam 24:18-25

God sent us the Holy Spirit to guide believers and to help us respond and follow the Father's will. Hearing God's Voice book says: "Even before people place their faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit is active, convicting them of their sin and convincing them of their need for God. And new believers are capable of hearing God speak, but they must learn by experience how to understand what he is telling them."

What are some of the Holy Spirit's roles? Here's just a few!

1) Brings assurance

2) Convicts of sin

3) Brings understanding

4) Guides to Truth

5) Reveals God's will

Check out "Hearing God's Voice" book for the remaining 10 roles of the Holy Spirit! This book helps us understand how God speaks to us today and what the role of the Holy Spirit is, and how God's Word speaks to us. Learn what prayer is and isn't and how Satan uses lies and half-truths in our lives to keep us from God's best. It even teaches us how to respond to God's voice!

Jesus told his disciples that he would be sending them a Counselor called the Holy Spirit.

John 14:25-27 NIV "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, 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. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 16:7-11 NIV

"But I tell you the truth; it is for your own good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

Written by: Jill Theriault

Crossroads Coaching - @crossroadscoachingongodstime