by Luke Kincaid
There have been many times while driving when the car in front of me has saved me from driving into a pothole by making a point of missing it in a noticeable way. One time I was super grateful because the driver even made the added effort of putting on their hazard lights a few moments before assisting me in dodging a potential tire-eating sized pothole. What is interesting to me is that to benefit from this offered assistance I needed to be aware of what was going on around me. I could have simply ignored the warning signs and continued driving and then needed to deal with the reality of a potentially damaged tire and/or wheel.
While thinking about these encounters with kind drivers I felt like I was being challenged by God in regards to how willing I am to follow the Holy Spirit in my daily life. Do I even pay attention to the Spirit’s leading on a daily basis or do I simply take it for granted or think that I know a better way? While dodging a pothole every now and then is of some benefit to me, what I can experience from following the Holy Spirit is far more valuable. This is what Paul has to say in Romans 8:5-11 & Galatians 5:16-17; 25:
5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit] gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through] his Spirit who lives in you.
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want… 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis means that I choose to walk in a way that pleases God and choose to walk in the way of life and righteousness. This is only possible through the Holy Spirit’s assistance because even as a disciple of Jesus we can live in ways that gratify our flesh, our sinful nature, which will be present with us until the day we go to be with our amazing Saviour Jesus. So follow the Holy Spirit today and allow Him to guide you. You can trust Him with everything you have and are. His leading will never let you down. The path in which He leads may not always be easy – but it will always be worth it.
Much love,
Luke
To live by the Spirit is the most gratifying way I found. To have the spirit within knowing the Lord is with you at 24 7.I could never pray for somebody before. TODAY I feel I Can pray even over the phone to people I have never met.,but God let’s me know that person on the other end needs prayer. Always a Blessing to me knowing the Holy Spirit is working through me.To help somebody know God is with them in any situation🙏🤗