Keeping in Step with the Spirit

 The Holy Spirit is an integral part of the Trinity. He is often ignored. Rightly so, the Father, and Jesus Christ the Son get all the attention. John wrote that the role of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus. Nowhere do we read in scripture where the Holy Spirit is to be regarded over the Father and the Son. That does not mean that the Holy Spirit does not play a vital role in the lives of believers and in the church. 

Earlier this week I read the phrase "keeping in step with the Spirit." It grabbed my attention. I can think of verses that reiterate this point. Galatians 5:16 and Galatians 5:25 exhort us to live by the Spirit. To stay in step with Him day in and day out. What does that even look like? Let me give an example. I had an incident this week that upset me greatly. I had a choice of how to react. My flesh, that natural carnal nature wanted to react one way. I mulled over different ways I could put those thoughts into action. The Holy Spirit opposes the flesh and directed me to react in the completely opposite direction. I prayed through it and settled on keeping in step with the Spirit and denying the flesh. 

We face situations like that constantly. Keeping in step with the Spirit pleases God. I think there is more to keeping in step with the Spirit than not just acting or reacting in natural ways. There is also following His leadership. We are called to live by the Spirit. To obey His promptings, yield to His guidance, and follow His directions. The Holy Spirit is constantly working in the lives of God's people to reveal the will of the Father. He does it various ways. For Abram it was a voice telling him to leave his homeland. For Moses it was a burning bush. Samuel heard a voice in the middle of the night. Elijah heard it as a still small voice. Paul had a dream that altered his course of ministry. 

The Holy Spirit is continually communicating with the people of God. He convicts of sin. He calls people to repentance and salvation. He comforts people who grieve and are brokenhearted. He empowers for service. He reveals the will of God. The Spirit is speaking. The question is are we listening?

Several years ago, I was leading a retreat for college students. One of the exercises we did was to spend an hour alone listening to God. It was a cold morning as the students scattered all over the campgrounds to pray and listen. 

I walked and prayed pleading with the Lord to speak to me. I felt this deep impression in my mind to go up to a girl named Courtney and tell her that God wanted her to go to Howard Payne University. Courtney was a high school senior who asked permission to attend the retreat. I knew Courtney. She was one of the smartest kids in her school. I heard her say numerous times she did not want to go to a small college. She grew up in a small town. She wanted to go to a large prestigious college. I questioned the impression in my mind whether it was really a word from the Lord. 

The impression persisted even stronger. I walked and prayed a little longer trying to discern was this the Holy Spirit or some random thought of my own imagination. The longer I prayed the more convinced I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to share this information with Courtney. I cannot ever remember another time when the Holy Spirit revealed God's will for someone else to me. I did not even get this for my four sons when they were choosing colleges. 

I walked up to Courtney as she prayed. She sat on the ground bundled up with a heavy coat and a hood on her head. Her face was buried between her knees. I walked up behind her and said, "Courtney, I believe the Lord wants me to tell you that He wants you to go to Howard Payne University." I turned and walked away praying that I had not made a mistake. 

I saw Courtney every week at our church. I never spoke to her again about that matter. What happened? Courtney did choose to go to Howard Payne University. She met her husband there and graduated. She is a successful young wife, mother, and advancing in her career choice. I am thankful I heard the Lord that day and stayed in step with the Spirit. It was not in my comfort zone. 

I cannot tell you the number of times I will sit on the front pew of a worship service when suddenly the Spirit impresses on me that I need to change the message. It has even happened as I stood behind the pulpit and bowed to pray before preaching. Sometimes it happens in the middle of a song. Sometimes it starts with a random persisting thought. I get this deep conviction that I am not to preach what I prepared during the week. When I have the courage to keep in step with the Spirit and preach what He impresses trusting Him for the words, something special usually happens. People will come up to me afterwards and say, "That message was for me." I chuckle and tell them God changed the message in the service. 

Keeping in step with the Spirit is applicable for every part of our lives. Raising a family. The job. Ministry. Brenda used to pray before she went to bed that God would show her how to set up her floors when she worked as a merchandise manager for JC Penney. Each time she got a clear mental picture the next morning and know what to do. 

May we all devote ourselves anew to keep in step with the Spirit in every area of our lives. I am convinced we will see God do some amazing things when we do.