Wait for the Spirit

One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is the joy of sensing God's leadership, to clearly know when God is saying, "Hold it. Don't move just yet," and to receive grace to respond to a Spirit-given hesitancy, an inner red light. Other times the Spirit gives a clearness, an inner knowing, a green light that indicates, "This is the time, say those words, make that purchase...."

If we don't sense any inner direction, it could be we haven't spent enough time in God's presence. Perhaps the cloud mentioned in Exodus 40:38 that gave the Israelites direction was a response to Moses' prayer in Exodus 33: "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."

God promised, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Moses' refusal to go without God's direction was the secret to their ability to know God's guidance.

Too often we don't wait for the Spirit. We speak--but not at the impulse of the Spirit. Thinking we know what to say or what to do, we forge ahead, leaning on our own understanding.

But if we always lift our moments of perplexity to Him, we discover He's willing to direct every detail of our lives. "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). We make no move, say no words, without His knowing it and without His interest.

Jesus, my eyes are on You. I trust You to give me the mind of Christ.

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end" (Psalm 48:14).