In step with the Spirit

I subscribe to Open Doors devotional called Standing through the Storm and I want to share an article from their archives with you today.

Two days ago I read John chapter three, and verse 8 made me wrinkle my nose. "The wind blows all around us as if it has a will of its own; we feel and hear it, but we do not understand where it has come from or where it will end up. Life in the Spirit is as if it were the wind of God.

I asked, "God, I want to have life in Your Spirit. But I do not know what it means." I was ready to settle with having no answers. After all, maybe a true life in the Spirit is not something to be grasped intellectually, but experienced. God may have given me an answer through the SSTS essay called "In step with the Spirit". Here it goes.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25

Jesus said He would not leave us alone but would give us a Helper to be with us forever (John 14:16-18). He taught us that the Holy Spirit would be our Counselor (John 14:26). Jesus also called Him the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17).

Two sisters in southern China came to Christ in a house church meeting. Twenty months later a friend from Hong Kong visited them and asked what they had been doing since their conversion. "Starting home meetings," was their timid response.

"How many home meetings?"

"Only 30," was their halting reply.

"How many attend your meetings?" was the next nonchalant question.

"Well, at the smallest one, about 280!"

Now the questioner was totally involved and quickly continued, "How many attend your largest meeting?"

"Not even 5000, only about 4,900!"

The Hong Kong Christian was flabbergasted. In his excitement he quickly asked, "How do you ladies—both new Christians—know what to do?"

They simply replied, "We pray. And after we pray, the Holy Spirit tells us what to do!"

It is also obvious that these two ladies were then obedient to the Holy Spirit's direction. The goal of all Christians should be to live so completely under the control of the Holy Spirit that it can be said we are walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). As Paul reminded the Galatian Christians, they began their Christian lives by a miracle work of God, new birth in Jesus, and they could only expect to continue in it by God's power. This fact is even more evident in a hostile environment.

Response
The Holy Spirit wants to be my guide and counselor today. I will be obedient to His leading.

Prayer
Lord, help me to walk this day in the power of Your Holy Spirit. May I also keep in step!

And so perhaps I have my answer from two Chinese sisters whom I may never meet on this earth. Pray, and the Holy Spirit tells us what to do.