Discernable Things

May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless…

1 Thess. 5:23

Oswald Chambers identifies a common subtlety of the Christian walk. It’s one I’ve often struggled with—how to discern between the Holy Spirit’s leading and your own thoughts. He states it this way: We must distinguish between the working of our own suspicions and the checking of the Spirit of God who works as quietly and silently as the breeze.*

He writes in the context of growing in Christ. God can see into every crook and cranny of my spirit, soul and body and sets a very high standard, blamelessness! This process of moving toward that lofty goal is only accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit within me. For this to occur, I must be sensitive to the “checking of the Spirit of God.”

So, what is that like? I recall a young believer asking for clarification after hearing her pastor’s wife saying, “God speaks to me the most often when I’m working in my garden.” This young woman was expecting to hear God speak audibly. Most of us will, at some time in our lives, feel like God has spoken so clearly to us that we could almost describe it as audible. Most often, though, it’s just as Oswald says, God’s working as quietly and silently as the breeze.

It could be that we pause to absorb a phrase from God’s Word that has caught the focus of our heart. Perhaps we note a particular truth from a sermon. Tears might rim our eyes as we reflect. We wake up at night with a prompting in our thoughts or heart. In a moment we simply know. Our seeking spirit settles. Our doubts leave. We’re ready to make a decision. We change directions or discard behaviors. These are the moments when I know the Holy Spirit has been at work in my spirit and soul. When I reflect upon these moments, it is true that He’s worked most often as quietly and gently as a summer’s breeze.  

Linda Lesniewski                                                                                      

*The Love of God, Oswald Chambers pg. 105-106