What looks out of reach may only be a few steps away. Keep going.
- Robert Celner
In the physical world the greatest journey starts, continues and ends with a single step. The spiritual, by nature immaterial, takes a little more care and consideration.
The Bible, inspired by the Spirit of God, offers priceless insights into finding and following steps and handholds when summiting the mountainous path of following Christ. A journey of which the event and processes of salvation is only the beginning.
A key aspect to the Christian journey is often overlooked, marginalized or misunderstood. Learning to know and please, obey and walk in the Holy Spirit is foundational to experiencing the provision and protection, presence and power of God.
Far from simply a force for good, or a lessor part of the Trinity, in many ways the Holy Spirit is the architect and sustainer of Christianity. From start to finish. He is the originator of Scripture and the implanter of Christ in Mary's womb. The anointing dove at Jesus’ baptism and His guide into the wilderness. He is the inspiration of the words of Christ, empowering His signs and wonders. He raised Jesus from the dead and is Pentecost's explosive heavenly fire. He is the indweller and transformer of Christian believers. He is the first fruits of Heaven and the seal of promised glory.
A quick overview of the Trinity may prove helpful in more fully appreciating and embracing the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Father: Begets. Leader of Godhead. Sets the times and seasons. Great White Throne Judge.
2. The Son: Begotten. As Christ experiences and completes the incarnation, humility, ministry, passion, crucifixion, atonement, resurrection, ascension, intercession, second advent, millennial reign. He is the creator of the new heaven and earth. Judge and head of the Church.
3. The Holy Spirit: Proceeds. Leads into all truth. Empowers through the impartation of Divine nature via fruit and gifts.
The three states of water may provide a useful, albeit oversimplification of the Godhead:
While helpful, knowledge is only the first step in walking in the Spirit. As with all aspects of the Kingdom, accurate Biblical discernment and experience is more a journey than destination. Progress requires honest and diligent commitment to developing spiritual sensitivity and practice.
Every child soon learns there is world a difference between lying and rolling over, sitting and crawling, standing and toddling, walking and running. As with the physical so to the spiritual. The problem is that billions expend only a fraction of a percent of a percent of the effort invested in the former to equally master the latter.
For those who have, or are ready to spend more, the following is a relatively straightforward 12 Step introduction to walking in the Spirit. For a far more extensive overview please see Walking In The Spirit from Quantum Christianity's growing eBook series.
1. Slow Down. Be Calm. Breathe
How? When anxious, worried or worse take a few moments to pause, practice peace and breathe a prayer request and/or word of thanks. First things first. One day at a time.
Why? Acknowledged or not, in 2020 there has been a devastating degradation in the times and seasons in which we live. While some seem more isolated than others by wealth, health and/or privileged, at least for the moment, the new sociopolitical era thrust upon us is national and global in effect. The year 2020 marked an unanticipated acceleration in the deterioration of societal norms. With 2021 following in lockstep. Signs of the times boding poorly for modern Christianity, and society as a whole.
The threat of present and future global pandemics abound. Economic tribulation reverberates worldwide. Dire, and perhaps orchestrated conditions, providing the justification and backdrop for unprecedented global overreach. A synchronized effort instigated by governments, media and international corporations. In a variety of forms, including economic and institutional shutdowns, shelter in place and social distancing mandates.
By mid 2020, 43 million sought unemployment benefits in the U.S. alone. Coast to coast rioting and looting, violence and murder, over the justifiable arrest and death of career criminal George Floyd went unchecked. Not to mention a series of other false martyrs used by Antifa, Black Lives Mater and Democrats to promote and propagate the greatest anarchy in recent U.S. history. All while calling to defund the police. With likely far worse to come.
These kinds of previously unimaginably blatant and continual attacks, in conjunction with insidious forms of “Woke” ideology and transgenderism, seem orchestrated to introduce an entirely new sociopolitical era. One reinforced by vast supply lines of support and genuflection by the iron triangle of liberal politics, media and global corporations. Power brokers aiming the gun and pulling the trigger on American society during a flawlessly manufactured low point. All designed to choreograph the very real possibility of future race riots with militias on both sides. If not the creation of two countries through any one of a variety of means. Perhaps a division through somewhat amiable means or even civil war.
Conservatives and Christians alike must awaken to the threat of Woke ideology and its puppet master’s true intents. Never in recent history have the spiritual and societal battle lines been drawn so clearly. Even the genocide of abortion is largely unseen. More a religious and moral issue than the publicly emboldened and highly praised BLM agenda of unprecedented destabilization and destruction. A campaign of terror supplemented with the tearing down of monuments, while bestowing martyrdom and sainthood on felons.
2. Put Away Known Sins and Doubtful Habits
How? Take time to recognize that trying to draw near to God, while simultaneously grieving His Spirit, is a fool's errand. As Jars of Clay points out in their insightful song, Two Hands (doing the same thing). We can and must do better.
Why? Without putting too sharp a point on it, billions have and continue to live and die without really knowing where we come from and where we’re going. Much less who, where and/or when we are here in between.
Why such confusion? According to the Bible, humanity’s thoughts and emotions, words and actions are being manipulated by a tiny three letter word that is directly and/or indirectly responsible for every pain and sorrow, tragedy and death ever known to mankind.
What could such a word be? Sin.
Scripture explains that both personally, and as a species, mankind faces the deadly foe of sin on three fronts. Sin above, in the form of devilish and demonic temptation and deception. Beginning with Adam, Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. Sin within, our inherited and individual fallen natures. The result of Adam, Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. Sin about, the collective and cumulative effect of sin above and within. Evan Roberts, the defacto leader of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival, maintained a few key steps were essential to the Christian life. At the time he was considered by some the most famous man in the world. Roberts worked tirelessly to encourage and enlarge a revival that in a year's time saw 100,000 converted in Wales and subsequently more than a million in Britain. After which missionaries carried the message globally.
His 4-step formula for walking in the Spirit may be the most insightfully eloquent and simple ever created:
- Confess any known sin to God and put any wrong done to others right.
- Put away any doubtful habit.
- Obey the Spirit promptly.
- Confess your faith in Christ publicly.
3. Don't Worry, Pray
How? Prayer is the lifeline of "faith, hope and love." Pray short and sweet or long and hard. Pray alone or together. Pray silently or intercede boldly. Wait on or wrestle with God. Preferably all the above. Daily communion, done right, might be healthful.
Why? The Bible uses the word pray 394 times. One passage makes a particularly compelling argument for the case of prayer verses worry:
- "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." Philippians 4:6-7 The Message
Prayer is appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give;
Long as they live, should Christians pray;
They learn to pray when first they live.
If pain afflict, or wrongs oppress,
If cares distract, or fears dismay,
If guilt deject, if sin distress,
In every case, still watch and pray.
'Tis prayer supports the soul that's weak;
Though thought be broken, language lame,
Pray, if thou canst or canst not speak,
But pray with faith in Jesus' name.
Depend on Him; thou canst not fail;
Make all thy wants and wishes known;
Fear not, His merits must prevail;
Ask but in faith, it shall be done.
4. Be Thankful
How? Ask the Lord to daily remind you what blessings we routinely take for granted. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much there is to be truly thankful for.
Why? Modern society's received the answers to the prayers of all past generations. And then some. Yet only a fraction of a percent of modern Christians appreciate the fact the entitlement is the original sin of men and angels. Unthankfulness and taking the blessing of God for granted, has not only proved the ruination of untold billions, but weakened Churchianity for millennia.
The Bible's full of passages detailing the havoc caused by the entitlement of the great and fallen Archangel once called Lucifer or in Hebrew הילל בן־שׁחר Helel Ben-Shachar. Like the gravitational force of dark matter and energy, the effects of his ancient angelic rebellion and current campaign of temptation and terror, encompass the entire Earth. Introducing a pandemic of entitlement Scripture repeatedly warns will be greatly magnified during the last days:
- "Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 The Message
- "But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you... Their specialty is greed, and they're experts at it. Dead souls! They've left the main road and are directionless... Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption—and they are—they're enslaved. If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit" and "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud." 2 Peter 2:1-2, 14-15, 18-22 The Message
In stark contrast, Scripture directs, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." A tall, but crucial order, of which we do well to at least begin making a good faith effort.
5. Quiet Worldly Distractions and Noise
How? A complete, or at least partial fast of TV, entertainment and/or information for short or prolonged periods is necessary to begin to remove the layers of worldly concerns insulating modern believers, and even Prophetic Christians, from accurately discerning and responding to God's voice.
Why? Modern life is full of nothing if not mixed messages from every source imaginable. Today, tens of thousands of TV shows and movies, music videos and recording artists instantly come to life wherever and whenever we want. Add to this smart phones and computers of every variety accessing the global internet and media 24/7 and our ability to communicate rivals that of mythological gods.
Unfortunately such information is not only overflowing with input, but trillions of dollars are spent to directly and indirectly manipulate mankind as a marketable audience. Sadly, many of modern media’s most lucrative works are heavily laced with immorality and worse. Energized by the 1960’s sexual revolution, such a strategy has revised the internal and external lives of billions, in a single generation all but dissolving traditional bonds of family and friends in favor of the original sin of entitlement and Me-ism.
More tragic still is the toll such an onslaught of temptation and deception has taken on Churchianity. Rather than be the salt and light society so desperately needs at this late hour, by and large we’ve succumbed to more subtle yet equally spiritually toxic worldliness and sin. True for a variety of reasons, chief among them is a growing lack of concern over the things of God. Overflowing with previously unknown blessings of every kind, fewer and fewer invest the time and energy to prayerfully and diligently read much less accurately and honestly study Scripture. Worse still, growing levels of apathy are reinforced, if not created by, misleading popular doctrines such as unconditional love and eternal security. Rather than teaching “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help me God” by earnestly investigating what the Bible actually says about such topics as repentance and salvation, sanctification and sin, fellowship and worship billions just wing it, believing (or not) whatever version of the gospel and Christ they happen upon.
6. Be Still. Wait. Listen
How? Make the time to bring Isaiah's wonderful promise to life, "But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind."
Why? Approaching the invisible, inaudible God can be a tricky business. Over the millennia, billions have tried and many have failed. For some the effort proved too daunting or frustrating. Others were led astray into excess or apostasy.
Fortunately there have been those who touched and were touched by God. They're examples and direction inspire and point the way for us who would "know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; and be filled with all the fullness of God." As in their case, doing so requires we learn, practice and develop the art of prayerful silence and stillness. Essential skills for those endeavoring to successfully wait on, and at times even wrestle, creation's Creator and Savior.
Busyness and multitasking are now primary goals prized as virtues. Often producing impatience and frustration among their more negative fruits. Today’s privileged and harried lifestyles leave little or no time to “Be still, and know that I am God.” Fasting, or more accurately s.l.o.w.i.n.g. is extremely helpful, designed to change this dynamic. Altering the balance over a period of days begins to afford time to be alone with God. Though often difficult and challenging, by listening more carefully and thinking circumspectly, we are invited to litmus test and adjust the pH of our thoughts and feelings, habits and lifestyles to be more in keeping with Kingdom standards.
Also James' advice to be "Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" is as necessary as it is frequently overlooked.
7. Absorb God's Word
How? Read and/or listen to Scripture as often as you can. Carefully select tools and teachers to assist. When taken to heart, the messages and ministries of Godly men and women over the years can help move us along the path of radical discipleship. Remember to be responsive, “Don’t I beg you, only hear the message, but put it into practice; otherwise you are merely deluding yourselves.” Have a purpose. Be productive.
Why? Wonderfully, in Scripture alone, religion and science reach their zenith. As do every other genre. From action and adventure, to crime and mystery. From thriller and occult, to fantasy and science fiction. Each on a global and eternal scale!
Woefully, the Bible’s overarching context is most certainly that of conflict theology.
Careful Scripture archeology and Biblical forensics reveals that Satan, by cunning and/or might, incited Heaven's one and only angelic rebellion. By temptation and deception, he choreographed the fall of mankind. By dominion and craft, he holds title as the “god of this world” and “prince of the power of the air.” As the “father of lies” and cosmic insurrection, the original sin of angels has overflowed onto Earth, reshaping all of human history, and life as we know it. Warping the thinking and actions of mankind, often to the point of being twisted sideways, backwards and/or upside down. A most unfortunate circumstance detailed in Quantum Christianity’s books such as Conflict Theology and work of Biblical faction entitled, “Eternity…The Wager.”
For millennia Scripture has directed Christians to put off our old nature and put on that of an entirely new creation. Fully unplugging from all forms of media for a prolonged period of time, while uncommon, creates an opportunity to allow the spirit and soul to be refreshed and admonished by the Ruach Elohim, in Hebrew meaning the Breath, Wind or Spirit of God. As Paul, the apostle of grace, directs:
- “When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:21-32 New International Version
8. Test All Things
How? Practice carefully comparing opinions, information and current events with Scripture, godly council and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.
Why? There are hundreds of Bible verses directly and indirectly referencing Satan's significance. Specific passages in the New King James Version include the usage of the name Lucifer (1), Satan (54), Devil (34), Dragon (13) and Evil One (5). Additionally, Scripture's use of words such as temptation (13), deception (6), pain (43), death (428), evil (491) and sin (1153) can be indirectly attributed to the architect of disobedience.
Scripture reveal important truths as well as sheds light on original sin and its continuing impact on modern society as well as the Church.
Taken together, all evidence points to our situation requiring critical revaluation. Both outside and inside modern Christianity. For those with eyes, ears and hearts willing to truly see, hear and understand the simultaneous crises and opportunity before us, there is much work to do. And little time to do it. A principle addressed by Jesus just prior to His wonderful and miraculous healing of a man born blind:
- “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4 English Standard Version
- “Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” 1 Thessalonians 5:13-24 The Message
9. Cultivate Fruit and Gifts of the Spirit
How? Like any farmer hoping to harvest a good crop, planting, watering and tending our thoughts, emotions and actions are essential. Recognize the time is now to diligently get to growing Divine love, joy, peace…
Why? Maturing in understanding and experience is crucial to fully receiving and sharing the benefits of Christ’s costly atonement primarily accessible by the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Like many Biblical truths, the subject of heavenly love transcends human understanding and must be spiritually discerned by those who can see, hear and understand what Jesus through the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
God has tasked mankind with the gracious directive to develop and practice the fruit of the Spirit as it is defined in Scripture.
The word love, which according to Paul is the first of nine essentials Christian qualities, appears in the Bible 686 times explicitly and far more often implicitly, it is more the quality than the quantity of it's usage making the study of this foremost aspect of the fruit of the Spirit one, of if not the most critical, in all of Scripture:
- “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." Galatians 5:13-26 New International Version
- “The head man in that part of the island was Publius. He took us into his home as his guests, drying us out and putting us up in fine style for the next three days. Publius’s father was sick at the time, down with a high fever and dysentery. Paul went to the old man’s room, and when he laid hands on him and prayed, the man was healed. Word of the healing got around fast, and soon everyone on the island who was sick came and got healed.” Acts 28:7-9 The Message
- “Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].” 1 Corinthians 4:1 Amplified Bible
- “Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues. But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.” 1 Corinthians 4:39-40 Amplified Bible
10. Be Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves
How? Honesty is what God prizes most. Be completely truthful about yourself and circumstances. "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."
Why? Jesus warned His followers to be astute in their discernment in every aspect of life. In one passage He's particularly clear:
- "Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove." Matthew 10:16 The Message
As far as wisdom, among the many compelling evidences for the Divine inspiration of Scripture are its amazing insights into human nature. Thousands of passages combine to paint a beautiful yet troubling mosaic encompassing our every thought and emotion, word and deed. The Book of James notes there are two wisdoms. To fully explain the rationale behind mankind’s obvious dualism, the Bible reveals our attitudes and actions arise from competing sources. Scripture identifies the wisdom from above as “pure, peaceful and gentle” while the wisdom from below is “earthly, sensual and demonic.”
Like his half brother Jesus, James minces few words, carefully cutting to the chase and providing practical yet deeply spiritual insight. Case in point:
- "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:13-18 New International Version
- "The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, 'I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots'. So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation." 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 The Message
11. Discern the Times and Seasons
How? Scripture directs, "Get the facts at any price, and hold on tightly to all the good sense you can get." And also. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Do a lot of both. Those with stout souls might try the Prayer of Anguish.
Why? Tragically, one of the greatest mistakes recorded in Scripture equates to having eyes that fail to see, ears that fail to hear and hearts that fail to understand. This universal yet tragic condition is denounced by the likes of non other that Moses and David, Jeremiah and Isaiah. Not to mention all the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles in some fashion or another. Quoting Isaiah, Jesus and Paul strictly warn such practices lead to the inability to correctly perceive such basic Kingdom principals as repentance. Much less accurately access the changing times and seasons. Many of Christ's harsher sayings deal with this very issue:
- “Then he said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once that it is going to rain, and so it does. And when you feel the south wind blowing, you say that it is going to be hot, and so it is. You frauds! You know how to interpret the look of the earth and the sky. Why can’t you interpret the meaning of the times in which you live?” Luke 12:54-46 J.B. Phillips New Testament
- “The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:6 New English Translation
12. Plan with an Open Hand, Enter God's Rest
How? The difference between heaven and hell lies in thinking well. Plan long and hard, continually submit them to God, and remember the adage, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not break." Set course for the promised land of entering God’s Rest.
Why? Jesus used an interesting analogy in His conversation with Nicodemus, and by extension all of mankind. He notes “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Among other things, might this be a reference in keeping with all the above points regarding totally yielding our whole life? A surrender necessary to fully walk in the Spirit. Radiating both the fruit and gifts of God. Always with an eye to an enlarged experience of His provision and protection, presence and power.
Again James, Jesus' half brother and author of the New Testament Book of James, makes a similar point: "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." James 4:13-17 New International Version
One of the most notable and relatively recent heroes of the faith was George Müller. During his lengthy and world famous ministry in Bristol England throughout most of the 1800's, he housed and educated over 10,000 orphans. He also established over 100 schools providing Christian education for over 120,000. Often praying in meals and resources for thousands of orphans, his journal entries reveal his unwillingness to touch a surplus of offerings targeted for missionary work.
As with Finney, and other great men and women of God, Müller also attributed his success to developing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. For example, in regards to myriads of decisions made over decades, he testified of five steps, that when followed always proved effective.
1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's Will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.
In reflection on the reliability of relinquishing his decisions to the leading of the Holy Spirit, George Müller explained, “Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.” Excerpts from answers to Prayer from George Müller's Narratives compiled by A. E. C. Brooks. Chicago.: Moody Press, ca. 1897
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