I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be "Spirit-led". It seems that I ask the Spirit to lead, or at least be a part, of most things I do, yet often times it doesn't feel as if I am being led. I've been thinking about my role in inhibiting the Spirit's leadership and direction.
The other day a friend of mine asked me, "When was the last time you were in a service and the Holy Spirit took control?" He was asking me how long had it been since I had been a part of a gathering where the "plans" were interrupted in light of the Spirit giving direction. A time when nothing else mattered but resting in the presence of the Spirit. A time when experiencing God's presence together trumped every other agenda that we held that minute, hour, or day. A time when God's presence was palpable and intimate in such a way that people were spontaneously moved to respond.
What a good question.
I had to think a while...
Why does it feel like those moments have been so sparse?
I think sometimes it is too risky to allow the Spirit to lead. When I think about my own life, it is more comfortable to ask the Spirit to be a part of my pre-established, risk assessed, neatly packaged plan than it is to let Him genuinely lead. After all, I can craft a plan that meets the approval I have set for myself, and the approval of others around me. I will most often craft a plan that will not upset anyone else or even cause others to notice. My plans "work" and are even affective.
And at church? The same is true. If we are not careful and intentional, We can get caught spending gobs of time planning a service that fits neatly into a pre-specified time slot, laced with predictability, pleasing to the "Christian consumer," in which we are more concerned with execution than sensitivity to the Spirit. We can become more driven to action by "consumer" response/reaction than the nudge of the Spirit. Or, even worse, we can begin to lead based on what people will accept and enjoy instead of following the Spirit's lead.
Not only is trusting the Spirit's lead too risky, it is also associated with shallow, emotionally-based faith, and lazy preparation. Too often, people have not prepared to worship God or have not sought his will in their life and resort to calling on the Spirit to "rescue" them from their laziness. That is not trusting the Spirit. That is chasing an emotional whim in desperation. The Spirit will lead through preparation, human ingenuity/creativity, and emotional passion. I believe the key to being Spirit-led is seeking the Spirit through prayer and preparation. Asking for the Spirit to move and submitting to his leadership is neither lazy nor shallow.
God desires more than just being a part of our scripted plans, He wants to lead us. He is calling me to "seek first His kingdom and righteousness," and let the careful planning fall appropriately into place. My prayer:
"Lord give me your grace to seek and follow your Spirit's lead in my life. May your direction speak loudest in my heart."
God is still teaching me about being sensitive to His leading. I am thankful for people willing to engage in conversation with me. What do you think?
