FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1
Isaiah 57:13-19
Galatians 5:16-21

Is your spiritual life
growing or going?

THE SPIRIT LEADING (I)

Our hearts are by nature inclined to worldly things. By our own instincts and appetites we are drawn away from the things of God. From the moment of birth we follow the worldly trend and gratify our senses with passing pleasures. Even after our conversion, this natural tendency and worldly inclination persist to a greater or lesser degree. We know it, we feel it and we hate it! We struggle against it, but by our own strength, our striving is losing! We need the almighty power of the Spirit to turn our hearts and lead us in another direction.

Only God’s Spirit in us can perfect this great work of weaning our inner man away from the desires and lusts of the flesh. The Spirit must show us the utter futility of setting our affections on things of the world. He must open our eyes and understanding to the vision of a perishing world with all its lusts and attractions. Seeing this we bow before His Word of truth that if we continue to love the world, the love of the Father is not in us; and that the world is shortly to pass away. But the real life is in doing the will of God (1 John 2:15-17). Pray then and submit to the Spirit and follow His leading into the real life – the life of lasting peace and unending pleasures with God. This is the blessed condition each of us must strive for. And nothing but the Spirit can effect the change of heart which must precede the change of direction. “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes…” (Ezek 36:27). This is our God’s promise, and He will do it if we will not rebel against His will.

Let us pray then and yearn for the Spirit’s leading. By His almighty and invincible power the Spirit persuades and induces us most gently, for He is gentle as a dove. He never forces us against our will, never uses any physical force. Sometimes chiding, sometimes chastening, but always with love, the blessed Holy Spirit inclines our hearts toward Himself – by His Word, by faithful preaching, by the turn of events and circumstances. Then He leads on towards the perfect day and we will gladly follow.

THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 23:3.)
PRAYER: Lord, grant me the joy of following Thy leading.