Biblical Answer

The Leading of the Holy Spirit

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is our guide and helper, who leads us in paths of obedience to God's will (Rom. 8:14). To know if we are being led by the Holy Spirit, we must understand that He does not always reveal Himself through dramatic or spectacular means, but rather through the ordinary and mundane. He may speak to us through our conscience, our inner hunches, or through the still, small voice of Scripture. In fact, the Bible teaches us to test the spirits to see if they are of God (1 John 4:1-3). So, how can we be certain that we are being led by the Holy Spirit?

The Litmus Test for the Holy Spirit's Leading

The Bible provides a litmus test for determining whether the Holy Spirit is leading us. This test is the Word of God itself. When the Holy Spirit is genuinely at work in our lives, He will lead us to obey the Word of God. He will guide us to follow Jesus Christ and to walk in the light of His teachings. In addition, the Holy Spirit may provide guidance through the means of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy (1 Cor. 14:29-33). However, we must always be careful to test these gifts against the Word of God to ensure that they are truly of the Holy Spirit.

The Witness of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit also bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16). This witness is a deep sense of knowing that we are loved and accepted by God, despite our sins and shortcomings. It is a sense of being separated from ourselves, and being drawn to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we experience this witness, we know that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. He may also reveal His presence through the experience of sensing our absolute unworthiness, and yet feeling loved and accepted by God. This is a powerful indicator that the Holy Spirit is leading us, and guiding us into all truth. As the Bible says, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). When we experience this witness, we can be confident that we are being led by the Holy Spirit.