Trusting the Holy Spirit’s Lead and Divine Encounters
When we trust Jesus, and set Him before us to love and follow Him, the Holy Spirit works His transformative work in us (2 Corinthians 3:18). He whispers to our hearts, affirming our identity as God’s children (Romans 8:16). He doesn’t just want us to know this intellectually—He wants us to live it. Lived faith, that’s the Holy Spirit’s goal
Jesus’ Example
Jesus is our perfect example. From His baptism to His trials in the wilderness and throughout His ministry, Jesus trusted the Word, actively listened to the Spirit, and followed His lead. He showed us what it looks like to live completely dependent on God, walking in step with the Spirit’s guidance.
Jesus trusted the Word, actively listened to the Spirit, and followed His lead.
The Uncontrollable Spirit
We too need to know the Word and actively listen and yield to the Spirit. His ways often defy logic. He moves in ways that challenge our expectations and thwart our sense of control. He acts in His timing. He leads and enables us to do things we don’t naturally prefer to do (show mercy, forgive that person, love your enemy). He doesn’t protect us from all pain or suffering in our obedience.
Yet, He is deeply loving and wonderfully good.
He upholds and never contradicts God’s Word but whispers and confirms it. He teaches us what living as God’s beloved children means.
The Holy Spirit is not in it for His own worship and praise; He never draws attention to Himself but glorifies the Father and reveals Jesus in ways that stoke our hearts and change us. It’s a mission of love for the Holy Spirit loves the Father and the Son, and wants us to share in that same love.
Fruit of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a community builder. He doesn’t command but produces love—i.e., the fruit of the Spirit—in our lives and relationships. His influence is marked by love expressed in patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and so much more. (Galatians 5)
Gifts of the Spirit
He also equips us with spiritual gifts—i.e., the gifts of the Spirit—not for our personal glory, but to build one another up (1 Corinthians 12). He’s not an isolationist. Get out there. Serve others. Trust that the Holy Spirit works in and through you even when you can’t see or feel Him.
Inexplicable Encounters with God
On this side of life, we are learning to live by faith and rely on the unseen Spirit promised by Jesus. Faith is key. We don’t need to see or experience Him to believe. Yet He occasionally overwhelms us with an unexpected experience that stokes a fire and desire. Even if it passes in days, the “feeling of love, transcendence, and glory,” lingers in our memory for decades.
We don’t need to see or experience Him to believe. Yet He occasionally overwhelms us with an unexpected experience that stokes a fire and desire.
An encounter with the Spirit of God is an unexpected grace. Expecting it daily outside of mere trust will leave us empty and distraught. God acts on His own agenda. But these experiences do something for human hearts that nothing else can do. They strengthen the believer’s faith and joy in deep and emotional ways with no explanation other than God’s Presence.
The Bottom Line
At the heart of it all, the Spirit’s purpose is to draw us closer to the Father, just as Jesus did. To deepen our faith in Jesus and our relationship with God. To open our eyes to His beauty and His love. And, of course, to transform us, individually, and as a community of believers who reflect His glory together.
May we open ourselves to God’s love and the Holy Spirit’s leading.