What is Leading You ? Being Led by the Spirit.

Led by the Spirit –

Pastor Calvin Cook – July 3, 2025

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing! He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul, He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake” Psalm 23:1-3  (NIV)

We know it well, the words of the 23 rd Psalms. There is not Psalm or reading that is probably read more. It is on plaques, writings read at times of difficulty, taught to the children, and forever written on our minds and more importantly on our hearts.

It has become the voice of God spoken through King David nearly 3000 years ago that continues to bring comfort and solace to our soul. It is epic!

Last night before sleep as I prayed its words, they kept swirling in my heart through out my sleep and in the moments I was awake. A comfort, a solace, that God is leading me, guiding me in the paths of righteousness, foreshadowing the things that are taking over, and causing me to find comfort, if I am ready to receive all that God wants to do and the places that God wants to take me to. However, there are issues on our part of receiving and accepting the plan and places we are being called to.

But who is leading? Who is that great Sheperd that shows up and guides us toward green pastures and quiet still waters. In our relationship with God, we would like to recognize it as Jesus. The one who shows up with abundant grace and does for us, remains in us, when nothing else will do. Still the critic says but how can you follow something you can’t see, touch, or communicate with face to face. While through this loving God or great Shepherd we have a comfort and a promise of the Holy Spirit.

Yes, the Holy Spirit was present even in the Old Testament. And the same Holy Spirit that moved upon David’s heart, giving him the assurance that God was leading him through green pastures and even through the darkest valleys, is still doing the same. Here is the good news, that the same Holy Spirit is moving in you and through you. Have you not yet perceived and received the Holy Spirit.

Today, we are offered the same leading through the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent by the Father to dwell within us, guiding us into truth and comforting us in our struggles. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13 (NIV)

We, like David, can say, “The Lord is my shepherd,” because the Holy Spirit is reminding us continually, we are never alone, never without guidance, and never outside the reach of God’s mercy.  Now all we must do is decide who and what we want to follow !