part 4 of 5

Listen to the Holy Spirit:

Many Christians believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within believers and guides them. Pay attention to your conscience, inner promptings, and the peace that comes from aligning with God’s will.

Listening to the Holy Spirit involves being in tune to the guidance, prompting, and conviction of the Holy Spirit within the believer’s heart and mind. Here are some Scripture reference to help clarify.

John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

Romans 8:14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Galatians 5:16: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Galatians 5:25: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-12: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

Ephesians 4:30: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

1 Thessalonians 5:19: “Quench not the Spirit.”

These verses highlight the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding, leading, and empowering believers. Listening to the Holy Spirit involves cultivating a sensitivity to His voice through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and obedience to His promptings. It requires surrendering one’s will to the leading of the Spirit and being open to His direction in all aspects of life.

Be Open and Flexible:

Sometimes God’s will may not be immediately clear, and it may require patience and openness to discern. Be willing to surrender your own desires and plans to God’s leading, even if it takes you in unexpected directions.

The concept of being open and flexible, especially in the context of seeking God’s will, involves a willingness to yield to God’s plans and purposes even when they may differ from our own desires or expectations. Here are some Scripture references from the (KJV) that illustrate this idea:

Proverbs 3:5-6: “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.”

Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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.”

Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

James 4:13-15: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”

Jeremiah 29:11: “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.”

Being open and flexible means surrendering our own plans and desires to God’s will, trusting that His ways are higher and better than ours. It involves acknowledging God’s sovereignty and seeking His guidance in all aspects of life, including decision-making, relationships, and future plans. By being open and flexible, we position ourselves to receive the blessings and fulfillment that come from aligning our lives with God’s purposes.

Phil Berry TH.D D.D