Spiritual disciplines guidance Keeping in step with God
What is Guidance? Guidance – Advice or information aimed at resolving a problem, difficulty, etc. (O.E.D.)
What’s different about Spiritual Guidance? This is where we submit ourselves to God and expect the guidance to be given directly from God, by the Holy Spirit.
What is needed for this to happen? Repentance – turning from wrongdoing “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me” said Jesus to the disciples Faith – trusting in God and his actions When Jesus saw the faith of the paralysed man and his friends he said “Son, your sins are forgiven ”.
So how does God guide us? ‘Behind the scenes’ guidance without our co-operation Guidance through written instructions or examples in the Bible. We co-operate by obedience Guidance by the Holy Spirit where we co-operate by making our own decisions
So how does the Holy Spirit guide us? He helps us to understand the Bible He helps us to interpret the Bible for our own times He speaks to us through Christian literature and Christian friends He speaks to us through our own Spirit He sometimes asks us to make our own minds up – he can cope with whatever we decide
Why do we need the Holy Spirit? Jesus left us the Holy Spirit on his departure from the earth to be our Counsellor. That Counsellor will help us to be clear about what the Bible is saying in a specific case The Holy Spirit will never contradict the Bible, but will guide our understanding of it. Where God leaves the choice to us, the Holy Spirit guides us through the thinking process
About corporate decisions Even repented, faithful Christians are sinners We do not always follow the way of Christ Agreement between sinners can be difficult Prayer, meditation, fasting are tools for achieving agreement ‘Love God and love your neighbour’ also applies in Committee meetings
Navigating through life Check the Map given by the Bible Listen to the Satnav of the Holy Spirit Decide which way to go May God go with you