Church: More Than a Buildingნიმუში

The Church Gets Its Power through the Holy Spirit

The bags are all packed. The last suitcase just got loaded into the car. You are about to check an item off your bucket list. You are heading to that amazing, exotic place you have always dreamed about. All the planning and saving is over. It’s time to go!

When your plane touches down, you are greeted by an enthusiastic guide who takes you to a nearby restaurant and you are officially on your dream getaway.

A guide can make all of the difference in the world on your travels. Especially if you are visiting a place for the first time, a seasoned guide will steer you away from potential trouble and uncover some lesser-known treasures along the way. In the same way that a guide is a real benefit to a traveler, the Holy Spirit helps us along this life, avoiding pitfalls and leading us toward great places.

Your first encounter with the Holy Spirit may have caught you unaware. One of the things He does is convict us of our sin. And that conviction is a huge blessing to us, because it starts us on the path of repentance and forgiveness. Romans 2:4 tells us that conviction is actually good for us, as it leads us to repent. But it can still catch us off guard. Thankfully, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us along.

As a Christ follower, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you! He is the gift that Jesus promised to send to His disciples. He guides us into all truths (John 16:13). He keeps reminding us how much God loves us. And He gives spiritual gifts to people with the express purpose of giving us the power to follow Jesus and tell others about Him (1 Corinthians 12). He takes us through seasons of our life and produces good fruit in us — things like love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:22-23).

Like a travel guide, the Holy Spirit will lead us away from potentially dangerous areas. Commit to following Him, and He will guide you in your life. Practice listening for that guiding voice as you pray and study the Bible. Listen for His convicting voice, too, and repent of what He is showing you. You have a life guide!

Reflect

As you look back on your life, have you seen times when the Holy Spirit guided you away from trouble?

Respond

Take a few moments to practice listening for the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit. You can try just sitting quietly, praying silently, or reading a passage of Scripture. The more you practice, the more comfortable it will feel.

Pray

Lord, I want to listen to and follow Your Holy Spirit in my everyday life, following where He leads me. I want to be in lock step with Him. Help me to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in my everyday life, and have the faith to follow Him into new places, trusting Him to guide me well. Thank you, Lord!