The title of Psalm 23 is “The Lord is My Shepherd.” It likens God to a shepherd who provides for, protects, and leads His people. Listen to the first three verses: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1–3). The concept of being led by God is found many places in Scripture, but we may at times find ourselves frustrated with the practicality of living it out. What does it mean to be led by the Spirit? How does it happen? Can we know if it is indeed the Holy Spirit who guides us?
These are important questions for the believer who desires to follow his or her Lord in all things and hopes, by His great grace, to keep to the heavenward path. Like David, we long for green pastures, still waters, and paths of righteousness. And, as Paul says in his letter to the Romans, it is a mark of the children of God that they should be led through life in such a way. Therefore, it bears careful study and testing to determine if we are truly among the flock of the faithful. In order to determine what it means to be led by the Spirit, let’s look at some of the things the Bible tells us about who He is and what He does.
Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit is our guide into all truth (John 16:13); He is our source of life and peace (Romans 8:6). The Holy Spirit empowers believers to speak the Word of God boldly; to repent by putting to death the deeds of the flesh; to love, serve, persevere and endure. He is our intercessor, our witness to our adoption into God’s family, and our guarantee of eternal life. The Spirit produces in us the fruits of righteousness: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Galatians 5:22–23). He imparts spiritual wisdom and spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit is our avenue of God’s blessing, strength, and revelation. He unifies the body of Christ, sanctifies the individual believer, and glorifies God through our obedience.
Though imperfect, the child of God ought to be able to point to these holy landmarks along their Spirit-led path. Such things paint a picture of the believer’s journey with the Holy Spirit as their guide. He will lead us in God’s Word, God’s will, and God’s way. A child of God progresses in love, holiness and usefulness as he or she keeps in step with the Spirit. Repentance will be a hallmark of such a person, and spiritual fruit will be borne in season. Those who are led by the Spirit will seek wisdom, strength, unity with the body of Christ and God’s glory in all things. They shall rest assured of their salvation and rejoice in their Father’s spiritual blessings.
Secondly, how does it happen? The manner in which the Spirit leads is through the practical process of sanctification, and the means by which He does so is through the Word of God, communion with the saints, and prayer. To sanctify means to “set apart as or declare holy; to consecrate, purify or make free from sin.” This is God’s goal for His children: that they would be free from sin, holy, pure and set apart. Now I’m sure we’d all like to just snap our fingers or say an incantation and suddenly be better people, but God likes to work the extraordinary into our lives through ordinary means. It is humbling to realize we actually can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, muster our own will and our own strength and be “good” apart from God. It is even more humbling to be told that we must rely on God’s Spirit, God’s truth and God’s people if we are to make any progress in Christlikeness!
And yet this is exactly what the Bible tells us. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). In His prayer for believers, He prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). And through the Word He tells us, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” (Hebrews 10:24). We must not expect a sudden spiritual experience or an overnight transformation to advance us along the Christian path. These things may happen from time to time, but they are not the regular way in which God most often chooses to work. Being led by the Spirit is a cooperative effort; he shows us the way, but we must walk in it.
Finally, how can we know we are being led by the Spirit? The first and truest test is this: Scripture. We must ask ourselves, Does the leading I’m experiencing align with God’s Word? We are not called to haphazardly “follow our hearts” or “do what feels good.” God’s Word warns us: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). If the spirit we are listening to is leading us on a path that is contrary to God’s revealed will in Scripture, then the spirit is not from God, plain and simple.
The second test is taking note of how you are being led. Like the sheep in our story, are you being called by a familiar, comforting voice into a place of safety and security? Or are you being driven along by thieves whom you do not recognize or trust? Satan employs his dogs of fear, anger, lust and confusion to bark and nip at the flock of God in order to draw them away from their Shepherd, to lead them astray and snare them in dangerous places. If the path you find yourself on is the result of some ungodly impulse, you may need to stop and listen for Christ’s still, small voice among the snarling of Hell’s hounds and return to the One who can lead you in safe paths.
When one is led they are brought to a destination. They are accompanied by one who has knowledge beyond their own. Someone who is led is “bound” in a sense to their leader; without them, they are lost. The Spirit of God leads the children of God as a teacher leads his students, as a guide leads a traveller, and as a captain leads his army. But the most apt description is that the Spirit of God leads the children of God as a Shepherd leads His sheep.
Sheep are neither able nor wise. They stray often. They must be made to rest and will not eat or drink unless they feel safe. They rely on their shepherd to guide them through dangerous territory to safe pastures, and they need his constant presence to protect them from predators. Do you know the good Shepherd, beloved? Has His sweet voice rung clearly in your ears and called you by name? Do you recognize the path along which He leads His flock, and can you see His Spirit’s work in your life? Then keep following Him! Keep to the Word and to prayer and to the gathering of the saints, and “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). May we ever follow our gracious guide and in so doing find ourselves among that blessed and holy company—the children of God—ascending with shouts of gladness and praise into Zion!