From the archives of Evelyn Roberts
Learning to be led by the Holy Spirit is important because it helps you make decisions based on God’s Word and His will for your life.
When you seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance …
- You learn to listen for God’s voice to direct you
- You allow Him to fill you with His Spirit, and
- He confirms by His Word what He has said to you
But we must be careful when we feel that God is telling us to do something. We need to question God to make sure it is His voice. He will confirm it in His own way.
For example, Acts 10 tells how the apostle Peter was praying when he had a vision in which a sheet came down from heaven with all kinds of animals inside. He heard a voice telling him to kill and eat whatever he wished. But being a Jew who observed strict dietary laws, Peter questioned God, saying, “I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” God replied, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (vv. 14-15 NASB).
At the same time, God spoke to Cornelius, a devout Gentile, telling him to send for Peter to come and share God’s Word with his household. Because of his vision, Peter realized he wasn’t to consider Cornelius unworthy because he was a Gentile. God confirmed His Word. Peter obeyed the Lord and the Gospel was opened up to all people!
First John 4:1 NKJV says, Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God. God promises to lead us, and when He tells us something, He will work it out His way and in His time. Our part is to pray and trust Him to lead us by His Spirit.