The Spirit-Led Life
As minister’s wives, we may often think that we are generally Spirit-led. And most likely we are. We are constantly in the flow of helping others, praying for others, making decisions at church or in ministry that affect others, reaching out to others. We don’t necessarily stop and ask the Holy Spirit if we should take that person a meal, or meet for coffee to pray for a hurting friend; we just do it. I believe that God is using all of you in those ways – leading you to reach others.
I think it’s easier to be Spirit-led in ministry for others, than for self. It’s easier for me to have confidence in God in others’ pain. It’s easier for me to trust God’s path and purpose in someone else’s rocky path. And yes, it’s easier for me to fall into the “what-ifs” of fear and worry in my own life than for someone else’s life. Being Spirit-led to minister to others is a whole different ball game than being Spirit-led in my emotions, my thought life, raising my kids, and in my marriage.
I can get bogged down and overwhelmed in daily life and decisions and end up being self-led through my personal life. Led by fear, worry, busy-ness and what other people expect me to do. I love the quote from Priscilla Shirer that says, “If the devil can’t make you bad, he can make you busy.” It is when we get caught up in the whirlwind of life that we get busy making decisions, putting our heads down and working that we get slammed with a situation and we react in our self-led nature. When that happens to a friend, I can see God moving and reassure them that the Holy Spirit is there leading them. When that happens to me, sometimes it takes me a day (or more) to realize I need to yield my mind to the control of the Holy Spirit to find that life and peace He promises.
I can forget that the Holy Spirit is my guide.
He is not just my guide for ministering to other people, but He is my guide in my everyday life with the little things no one else sees. And I have learned that I have to reach for that when I’m afraid. When someone hurts my feelings. When things are hard. I have to reach for that Spirit-led nature that shows me God is moving in every situation. I have to lift my eyes above the situation to see what HE is doing. I have to reach for peace.
John 16:13 | “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
John 14:26 | “ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
You see, when I am freaking out about my kid going to middle school, He is my comforter. When ministry is hurtful, He is my advocate. When I forget how big God is and how little my circumstance is to Him, He reminds me of all truth and guides me to that.
Those words “advocate and counselor” actually translate into paraclete. The Holy Spirit is our paraclete – which means He is called to one’s side. The Holy Spirit is called to your side. Just really think about that. He comes alongside every situation, every decision, and every day life to be your help. We have help! And we don’t even have to go looking for it. He is called right to your side.
So since He is right there with us, our part in this amazing dance with the Holy Spirit is to reach out and take Him at His Word. We get to allow Him to lead us, guide us, comfort us, and help us. We have to renew our minds daily to remind ourselves He’s right there with us.
Ephesians 4:2 | “ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”
Romans 8:5-6 | “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Galatians 5:16 NLT | “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.”
Casey Graves is a wife, momma to two girls, and co-pastor/planter of Foundations Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She enjoys a good cup of coffee with a friend or a family date day when she finds some spare time. What draws her to Sanctuary is her desire to truly share her vulnerabilities and struggles to help others dealing with similar wounds and insecurities that come with ministry. Casey recently published her first book, Perfectly Weak, now available at Amazon, and blogs at We Are Perfectly Weak.
