Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!” Psalm 143:10 ESV
Years ago, I convinced my sweet man that we should learn ballroom dancing. I’m not sure what prompted this interest. Perhaps it was my longstanding issues with a gross lack of coordination and the total absence of grace and rhythm in my movements. I was certain that with proper training and opportunity, I could become physically coordinated and graceful, and develop a sense of rhythm.
As we “ouched,” “sorry’d,” and stumbled our way around the ballroom floor under the watchful eye of the instructor, I began to have my doubts.
I watched as the teacher smiled and encouraged other couples waltzing across the room. “Excellent! Good job! Keep up the good work!”
Then he would turn to us. His smile didn’t look as genuine. I didn’t see much hope in his eyes, as his brow would furrow. “Okay. Okay. You’re getting there. Keep trying.”
Over the weeks, the instructor would single us out to offer tips and pointers. But we continued to struggle. Finally, during one session, he stopped us and asked, “Who is leading?”
When I said matter-of-factly, “Russ,” both the instructor and my husband looked at me and said, “No.”
I started to argue, but the instructor cut me off, “You are trying to lead. You’re not following your partner, who is supposed to be leading you. You aren’t letting him lead! You’ll never get the steps right if you don’t follow his lead.”
Well, that was embarrassing! But the instructor was right. I knew it. Like in many (most, maybe all) areas of my life, I always charged ahead and took the lead—or at least, tried to take the lead. That worked out fine, IF it was mine to lead. But if I was supposed to be the follower, and instead struggled to be the leader, I caused problems for all involved.
I’ve done the same thing in my walk with Christ. Perhaps, you have as well. I think we all do this at one time or another. We take the lead, then check in with God to see if everything is okay, or to ask for His approval and blessing on the decisions we’ve made on our own.
From personal experience, I can tell you that trying to take the lead when God is in control is even less successful than trying to lead when your dancing partner is the designated leader. And the “ouches” can be extremely painful and long-lasting, even more so than a stepped-on toe.
In Galatians 5:25 (ESV), the Apostle Paul writes, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” We are to follow in the steps of God’s Holy Spirit. HE takes the lead. We are to follow. As simple as that might sound, I think most of us would say that it is not always easy.
Why not? BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE THE LEADER! We want to be in charge.
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve—the first man and woman—struggled with this and made the disastrous decision of trying to usurp God’s leadership. They wanted to make their own decisions. They wanted to be in charge.
They believed the serpent’s lie that if they ate the forbidden fruit, they would be like God. They would be in charge of their lives. We all know the result of that reckless decision. Sin entered the picture, breaking the perfection of God’s beautiful creation. Sin doomed all creation to eventual destruction, ruin, and an eternal separation from God, UNLESS God intervened.
Thankfully, our God knew beforehand and had a plan in place to send a Savior who would one day set all things right and make a way for fallen man to be redeemed and restored to fellowship with God.
That desire to take the lead still resides in the heart of all humankind—in every person ever born. Even in the believer, it is at the core of the old self, the pre-salvation self. And it is constantly struggling to regain control.
Once again, God knew. He knew the struggle it would be to live a fully surrendered life, so He gave us a Helper. Not just any helper. He gave us Himself—His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of Truth is given to every Christ-follower. He’s not a helper who walks along beside us. No! The Holy Spirit does much more than that. He DWELLS IN US.
“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 ESV
He is the One who will take the lead, guiding and guarding us each step of the way. IF we allow Him to do that. IF we surrender our desire to take the lead and become the followers God intends for us to be.
To grow, flourish, and fully participate in the ministry of God’s Holy Spirit, we must:
- Recognize and be intentionally aware of His Presence.
- Continuously follow and surrender to His leadership and guidance.
- Ask for illumination and understanding of God’s Word.
- Pray with confidence, knowing that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
- Listen, obey, and respond to His revealed truth and instruction.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 ESV
Are you allowing God’s Holy Spirit to take the lead in your life?
Who’s leading?