Learning To Follow The Holy Spirit 1

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16- 25 NIV)

I thirst to follow the Holy Spirit in my life.  As a man of flesh, I fall ignobly short   As a novice I have found it strengthening to mentally recite the words of Galatians 22-23 (which I memorized some time ago) when I am aware of my own temptations.  Most times I miss the clues that I should be on guard and I fail- my flesh having it's way.

At times I hear brilliant things whispered to me that I know are the Holy Spirit, and I am grateful and recognize that this a Divine Word.  Other times I hear and believe I have had a great thought on my own, giving no credit to God.  Worst of all, sometimes I am impatient, angry or selfish and can't hear beyond my own wretched desires.  Lately, I have felt that the Holy Spirit wants to instruct me.  The word that came to me yesterday was Preparation.  It had to do with a panic attack I had over a job situation.  But there have been several crisis situations that have occurred lately that have underscored this Preparation thought this summer.  I won't go into them here and now, but suffice to say, they were game changers.

It came to me in my bed this morning that I must set aside time to meet with the Holy Spirit to set up my day and again at night to review, confess, and learn from my day.  Call it an exercise for an indeterminate period.  I was jolted awake by the idea and compelled to put some ideas down in blog form and it seems this is how I should record my learning.  

Holy Spirit come, guide my day.  Help me turn to you for answers, be prompted into action, and seek your inspiration and creativity.  Express yourself through me.  Form my words, inform my thoughts, and teach me.  Help me to show God's love and wisdom through my life.

Heavy on my heart is the need for confession.  That there are things that have done I need to ask forgiveness for that day.  That I have taken God's grace too much for granted and not learned nearly enough from my sin.  It makes grace cheap.  Part of my hope is that Jesus' sacrifice would move me to be more like him.  I hesitate to use the churchy term "sanctification", but to be "holy because God is holy".   I can't follow God better without addressing obedience (doing what God says)...

15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—…John 14:15-16 Berean Study Bible 

John 14:21
Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."
John 14:23
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love.
1 John 2:3
By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
2 John 1:6
And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments.

Religion is too much work.  God doesn't want slaves, he wants a relationship.  Let's not make this about trying to earn our way to heaven.  Jesus already took care of that.  Do this out of love for God's holiness, Jesus' sacrificial love and being teachable by the Holy Spirit.