Trust the Holy Spirit
Spirit Control

Scripture Reading:  Romans 8:9-11

Key Verse: Romans 8:9

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

The Apostle Paul writes that Christ followers are controlled by the Spirit, not by the sinful nature.  If we are controlled by the sinful nature, we are not truly following Christ.  It is imperative to continually check our lifestyle and see if the way we are living looks like the way Jesus would live.  Does your conversation sound like what Jesus would sound like?  Is there any unwholesome talk going on in your life?  Are there any un-Christ like behaviors being demonstrated on a daily basis?

            The Spirit expresses His desires in us by various means.  One way is through our conscience.  If you feel guilty about some behavior, then that is probably a behavior that the Spirit is speaking to you about.  (Sometimes the devil will use false guilt on us, so we must look to the scriptures and prayerfully determine where this guilt is coming from.)  Our goal is to continually be controlled by the Spirit of God that lives in us.  We want to say yes to all His desires and ways!

            Another means in which the Spirit speaks to us is by inner nudges.  This often happens as we read God’s Word and the Spirit puts a focus on a particular scripture.  Some people describe that as a scripture jumping out at them.  In other words, they were feeling the Spirit pointing out a scripture—speaking to them about a Spirit desire.

Father, my mind and heart are open and ready to receive orders for the day.  Speak to me and I’ll say, “Yes, Lord, yes to your will and to your way.”  In Jesus’ name, amen.