Led by the Spirit

Being led by the Spirit of God is the highest form of trust and obedience. Jesus said, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8

This analogy speaks to the fact that those who are led by the Spirit trust and follow His prompting with a total surrender, allowing God to guide them even when they cannot see the path ahead. Like the wind that moves unpredictably, so are those who are born of the Spirit— they are led in ways beyond human understanding. 

One key aspect of being filled with the Holy Spirit is an extraordinary ability to trust and believe in God's promises. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  Another notable characteristic of a Spirit-led individual is holiness. This includes spiritual discipline, sanctity, self-control, accompanied by a strong aversion to sin, witchcraft, pride  and anything that corrupts the soul and body. 

Being led by the Spirit seems to be less emphasized in today’s Christianity, yet the christian life is truly impossible without the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Many things can be imitated; however, true holiness cannot be replicated. God’s holiness is unique and unmatchable. 

To be like Christ means to have the Spirit of Christ. Jesus demonstrated that being led by the Spirit requires obedience, a process that is learned through experience. Hebrews 5:8 says, “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.”  We can certainly learn from Him. 

An anchor for the soul 

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

Amidst the world's challenges, our security in God serves as an anchor for our soul. The Holy Spirit continually affirms our identity as God's children, and He conitnually reminds us of all that this identity entails. It’s no surprise that those filled with the Spirit and led by Him often exhibit confidence and  boldness. This inner witness of the Holy Spirit leads to a profound sense of security, and what Tim Keller calls ‘emotional wealth’, a sense of being loved so deeply that when someone wrongs us we can afford to be generous, and able to forgive. 

A supernatural life 

In the everyday life of someone led and filled by the Spirit, miracles are often evident. Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit, performed many miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, and doing good works because "God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). Without the Holy Spirit, Jesus could not have performed any miracle. All of His miracles occurred because “God was with Him.” I have experienced this aspect of God’s power and witnessed miracles in my own life, from answered prayers to divine interventions, and heard numerous accounts of miraculous healings and escapes from danger. In our modern, rational society, there is often a tendency to dismiss the reality of miracles. Yet, miracles continue to happen around us. God’s Spirit remains actively at work. A life filled with the Holy Spirit is truly one marked by signs and wonders.  

Saint Paul notes that one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of performing miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10). However, it is crucial to be aware that not everyone who claims to perform miracles does so through the Spirit. Some may attempt to replicate or counterfeit these miracles without the Spirit, using magic. The Holy Spirit anticipated this and has gifted us with the discernment to distinguish true miracles from counterfeit ones - the ability to discern spirits.