There are many who often affix the phrase, “The Holy Spirit led me to,” upon their decisions and decision making. Perhaps that may seem like the easier way to discern things in life. But, isn’t that subjective and experientially based? What does it mean that the Spirit led them? What did the Holy Spirit do to lead them? How can they be sure he is leading them? Most importantly, what does Scripture teach about this?

We face a lot of decisions in life. Many of these can be tricky, having no particular Bible verse directly associated. Nevertheless, we are commanded to glorify God in everything we do (1 Cor. 10:31). And Christians want to honor God in all they do. But it’s not always easy to discern how to do so.

Related to that, there are many who often affix the phrase, “The Holy Spirit led me to,” upon their decisions and decision making. Perhaps that may seem like the easier way to discern things in life. But, isn’t that subjective and experientially based? What does it mean that the Spirit led them? What did the Holy Spirit do to lead them? How can they be sure he is leading them? Most importantly, what does Scripture teach about this?

These questions must be addressed by those who claim such leading. The Holy Spirit is the glorious third Person of the Trinity. He is God; a divine Person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity. In all the divine attributes he is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son. Thus, we must speak reverently and correctly about his Person and work. So, if he is personally leading us in our daily decision-making, we must be sure. And, we can expect that he would give objective criteria in Scripture for discerning so.

To begin, we will identify a few things which indicate that we are not being led by the Holy Spirit. Then, a few things which indicate we are being led by him.

How to Know that We Are Not Being Led by the Holy Spirit

1. Going against the word of God.

Making decisions that conflict with Scripture means we are not being led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the Author of the 66 books of Scripture (2 Pet. 1:20-21). As Paul writes, the “things of the Spirit” are the words spoken and written by the apostles as they were taught by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12-13). We can no more be in-line with the Holy Spirit and going against Scripture than we can be in-line with living but refusing to eat and breathe.

2. An unwillingness to receive counsel from godly Christians.

If we are unteachable in our decision-making, we can be sure that we are not being Spirit-led. The Holy Spirit imparts a diversity of gifts and wisdom to others in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:4-7). No individual Christian possesses all the wisdom in himself to make the best decisions for himself. If that were true, it might be called, the “body part of Christ,” instead of the “body of Christ.” We need the manifestation of the Spirit in other Christians to help us in life.

Some might counter, “Well, I don’t need counsel because I am following the Holy Spirit’s counsel.” That sounds sacred, but it might be sinful. Seeking out counsel from godly individuals is actually a way to seek out the Holy Spirit’s will on a matter. How? Again, we do not see or know every angle on a matter. The Holy Spirit’s ministry in and through others can illumine those blind spots.

And, an unwillingness to receive counsel is sinful pride (Prov. 12:1, 15:31-33). Would we suppose that the Holy Spirit would be propelling us forward in our pride and arrogance? The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. He never encourages us in it. So, an unwillingness to receive counsel from godly Christians is a sure sign that we are not being led by the Holy Spirit.

3. If we are living in unrepentant sin.

The Holy Spirit indwells us, in part, to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18). Much of what the wonderful and powerful work he does in us daily concerns sanctification. He is making us more holy in practice. Thus, if we are walking in unrepentant sin, at that moment, we are not living in line with the Holy Spirit.

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