When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He didn’t just let them wander aimlessly in the wilderness. God knew that they would need a guide to get them to the promised land and so He led them the entire way. By day, He led them with a pillar of cloud and by night He led them with a pillar of fire. He never left them to travel alone through enemy territory and He never expected them to find their own way to the land flowing with milk and honey.
It is the same for us today. God is still with us just as He was with the Israelites in the Old Testament. Today He guides us with His Spirit. God sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in God’s will and purpose for our lives. The Holy Spirit was also sent to teach us how to live a life that glorifies God and sets a Christlike example to the world around us. But, just as the Israelites could not make it to the promised land without God guiding them, we will never be able to live as a Christian without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I have attended church my entire life and I knew God, but I was never discipled within the church. It was all surface level. Go to church on Sunday and then the rest of the week God was forgotten. It was only when I left organized religion in 2011 did I start to grow in my relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I knew that I had to hang on tighter because following Jesus on your own is never easy. The Holy Spirit has discipled me and has taught me what being a full-time disciple of Jesus is really about. I am on a journey of seeking God’s will for the next season of my life and of learning how to “Be Jesus” to the world around me. The Holy Spirit has been that guide for me. He also keeps me from doing what I know is against God. He guides me through enemy territory and He is guiding me to a land flowing with milk and honey: Heaven. He has been a precious gift that I could not live without!
I am challenging you to do a topical Bible study on the Holy Spirit. He is found in the Old and New Testaments and I think you will be surprised by the different ways that He helps us. Seek the Holy Spirit for direction in EVERY decision you make. Tune in to His whisperings, because He also acts as our conscience, letting us know when we are on the wrong path. If you are a child of God, the Holy Spirit already dwells within you. It takes practice to “walk by the Spirit” as we are told to do in Galatians 5:16, but the more you tune into the Spirit in EVERY aspect of your life the easier it will become. Ask the Spirit to guide you. He will!