Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit

Guidance From the Spirit of Truth—The Holy Spirit Devotional Reading August 11, 2023

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

The word of the hymns “I Surrender All” and “Have Thine Own Way” indicate the writers understood our part in the plan of Salvation and the conditions of our relationship with Christ. To serve Christ requires a spirit of humility and a prayer of daily commitment. The love in our hearts acts as a catalyst to faithfully follow Jesus through surrender and obedience.

Yet, we need Divine Help in our daily spiritual journey of Sanctification—living holy and righteously and experiencing spiritual growth and transformation of our character into the Character of Christ.

“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth [the Holy Spirit] who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.” —John 15:26-27

Like Jesus’ disciples who struggled greatly in their journey of spiritual transformation, our Savior knew that all future believers would need Divine Intervention to remain faithful disciples. His promise to send the Holy Spirit was evidenced after His ascension on the Day of Pentecost. Study Acts chapter 2.

Jesus identified the Holy Spirit using the pronoun “He.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune Godhead—God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there is a disconnect in our belief that the Holy Spirit is necessary for our spiritual journey. If Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help His disciples who were physically with Him then we definitely need the Spirit of Truth to continue on the Path of Righteousness in our earthly experience.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” —Isaiah 55:8-9

Because we tend to minimize or discard truth that is beyond our understanding—the power of the Holy Spirit is a mystery—we find it easier to exclude the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from our lives. Still, we must have the Divine power of the Holy Spirit to maintain our relationship with Christ, to discern truth from error, and to gain an in-depth understanding of the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the Divine precepts on how to live righteously and warns us of the deceptions and temptations of spiritual warfare. We are no match for the evil schemes of Satan our enemy. The Holy Spirit is also our Protector.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

We must acknowledge our human disadvantage of being born into sin, shaped by iniquity, and possessing a carnal heart. Our thoughts are influenced by our childhood experiences, friends, family, worldviews, politics, social media, and denominational doctrines. Without the Holy Spirit, we will never comprehend God’s Agape Love or the plan of Salvation—it is through our faith we are saved by God’s grace.

We can read and memorize chapters of the Bible, but without using our faith to pray and invite the Holy Spirit into our life, we will never experience spiritual transformation. Some atheists read the Bible for knowledge or appreciate its documentation of ancient times, but they do not have faith in its teachings. Without faith, the Holy Spirit cannot give us spiritual wisdom, understanding of Salvation, God’s Sovereignty, the impact of sin, and how to live righteously.

When we fail to pray in faith for the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in the same predicament as atheists. We read the Bible, apply our human understanding, and become discouraged because we feel that God is distant. In the Bible, oil represents the Holy Spirit. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit that fills the emptiness of our spiritual vessel.

We would be hopelessly lost without the Spirit of Truth who takes our seed of faith and expands our knowledge and wisdom of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher who imparts us with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Bible. As we gain discernment and wisdom of Biblical truths, our relationship with Christ grows, and we begin to perceive life through spiritual eyes.

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” —Matthew 21:22

How does one receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit? Daily, we pray in faith and ask for the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives.

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit] which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” —1 Corinthians 6:19

Jesus created us as vessels to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Imagine a clean bottle that you fill with oil. To be filled with the Holy Spirit requires that our mind and body be a clean vessel. We demonstrate our love for God through faith and obedience.

What does total surrender look like? “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15, ESV. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance…” —1 Peter 1:14, ESV

Our decision to shun evil by choosing not to willfully sin is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Some temptations are so powerful, we need to cry out loud for Divine Help to overcome them. Yes, we need the power of the Holy Spirit!

David’s prayer, “Create in me, a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) provides us the model prayer demonstrating faith, humility, repentance, and surrender.

To be empowered with righteous attributes, our hearts must possess love and loyalty to God.

First, we must love God more than we love ourselves or anyone else. And we must possess the desire to live holy. We strive for righteousness through our faith in Christ Jesus. Without the intentional desire to live holy, we do not see the need to surrender or obey God. The human attributes of surrender, faith, and obedience are a freewill choice and reveal our love and mindset toward Christ.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Another role of the Holy Spirit: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” —Romans 8:26

With so many voices speaking their version of God’s truth, How do I know the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? Develop the habit of a consistent prayer life. Pray several times a day. It is not the length of our prayers that move God. Prayer is a two-way conversation. Include time for meditation and you will begin to recognize that your spiritual thoughts are from the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

A word of caution, do not manipulate the message. God never goes against His Holy Word found in the Bible. If you are praying for a material possession or a romantic relationship, wait on the Lord! The Holy Spirit does not always answer immediately. We know it is of God when supernatural miracles begin to happen and the request is brought to fruition.

In faith, we pray and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray with confidence because we can rely on the promises of God. God’s promises are steadfast and demonstrate the declaration of His Character—I change not!

“Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

On Wednesday night, I prayed for spiritual guidance regarding a complex situation. At 3:30 am, Thursday morning when I awakened, in my thoughts, the Holy Spirit gave me the steps that I needed to take for complete resolution.

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our thoughts and the Scriptures [Study the Bible]. The answers we receive represent Divine completion and provide Divine resolution. Not only do we receive answers, but the Holy Spirit is also our Comforter who ministers to our minds and souls by giving us peace and contentment.

When we receive direction from the Holy Spirit, there is no guesswork or confusion. The Holy Spirit knows our level of spiritual understanding and meets us exactly where we are in our spiritual journey. We can always count on the Spirit of Truth to give us clear and concise answers that provide clarity. And because God is a God of Completion, He does everything to glorify His Holy Name.

We claim the blessing of the Holy Spirit through our faith. In prayer, we surrender ourselves every day to be guided and controlled by the Divine power of the Holy Spirit. In humility, we wait for spiritual guidance and intervention. From our obedience and long-suffering, we receive a double blessing. Not only do we receive resolution, but we also receive spiritual empowerment. When we are faithful, we can tell others by sharing our praise testimony of God’s faithfulness and our victorious outcome.

“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear [reverence] the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” —Deuteronomy 10:12

Without a total heart and soul love for God, we will never reverence Him or accept His Righteous Precepts and Righteous Standards. Obedience is our highest form of worship. Active faith is demonstrated by surrender and obedience. God knows the true condition of our hearts, either we love Him or we do not. There is no middle ground!

Remember, we were not created to stand alone. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome the temptations of spiritual warfare. Not only do we have carnal hearts, but the worldviews that conflict with the word of God have caused us to compromise and accept watered-down versions of God’s Truth. We cannot save ourselves! Nor can we resolve the conflicts and challenges that leave us without answers. Do we need the Holy Spirit? Every second of our lives!

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” —Acts 2:1-2

Even though everyone in the place witnessed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, some doubters accused the apostles of being drunk with new wine. Study Acts chapter 2. Without faith, we reject the Holy Spirit and all evidence of His power.

The Holy Spirit enables us to view life through spiritual eyes. It is not climate change that is impacting our earth. We are living in the last days. The perilous times that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Timothy 3 describe our present earthly conditions. Jesus is coming soon! The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously on this planet earth that is plagued with increasing sinfulness.

God is Holy! The Bible is our Spiritual Mirror. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual discernment of the Scriptures and continuous guidance to overcome life’s challenges. Yet, we must choose to receive spiritual empowerment. We can never pray enough! When we pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes by taking our prayers and presenting them to Christ, our Intercessor.

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6

Worship is asking and inviting the presence of God into our life. Every prayer that we utter should reflect our willingness to surrender. Asking for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is a prayer that is answered immediately. Separate yourself and meditate while worshiping God. Changing our mindset to accept that the Holy Spirit is not an option empowers us to prepare for eternal life.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.… Matthew 7:13-14

Is it possible to live a godly life, stay on the narrow Path of Righteousness, and receive our reward of eternal life without the Divine power of the Holy Spirit? The answer is No.

Prayer: God, we desperately need the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our daily lives. We pray for the forgiveness of our sins, especially our wilful disobedience. Give us a clean heart and teach us how to hear Your Voice. Lord, we pray for wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

© 2023 Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions and Woman, You Are Loved by God