The biggest question I probably had my whole life was how you actually hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. Yes, we learned just a while back that He takes control of our conscience. 

Our conscience functions as an internal warning system, alerting us to wrongdoing. However, how can we seek guidance on matters unrelated to morality? If I need advice on an important matter, where do I pick up the phone to call the Holy Spirit? 

Some people hear the Holy Spirit in an audible voice. It is a gift that one receives from the Holy Spirit. Many of us do not have this gift. 

I struggled with this for a long time, until one day I woke up with a profound insight. Though simple, this realisation provided me with unwavering certainty regarding how the Holy Spirit works in me. 

There is a pathway from our own hearts to our minds. When our hearts “talk” to us, communication moves from our hearts to our minds and a thought pops up in our minds. We can now choose how we respond to it… 

For example, I can walk past a person in need and my heart can send a thought to my mind via that pathway. A thought pops up about whether I should help the person. I then decide for myself whether or not I’m going to do something about it. 

Through our ears and our eyes, impulses also come to our minds via this pathway. The world lures us with pretty pictures of stuff and wants us to buy into it because it’s in or it’s nice or it’s whatever. 

But not everything that comes from outside is negative. When God speaks to us through His Word, that communication also reaches our minds via the same pathway, and we can decide whether we want to follow the truth or not. 

The Holy Spirit uses this path too. We know that the day we accepted Jesus as our personal saviour, the Holy Spirit came to live in us. 

The Holy Spirit is our Helper and assists us to become more and more like Jesus. This help comes from the Holy Spirit via the same pathway into our minds. 

But now I hear you say that you “hear” nothing or that no thoughts of the Holy Spirit pop into your head. Well, this communication pathway of ours is quite busy. Most of the time it is rush hour traffic and everyone has to fight for their piece of the road. 

The Holy Spirit doesn’t shout or push. We need to slow down and get rid of all the noise, both inside and outside, to hear what He’s saying 

The more we can find time to be still and quiet, the easier it will be to recognise the thoughts of the Holy Spirit that pop into our minds. 

Just try it.  

Scripture
1 John 2:24-29 

Reflection
How busy is your life?
Do you make time to look for a place to stop?
Where in your life can you find a quiet spot every day? 

 Prayer
O, Spirit of God living in me, help me to quiet all the noise in me and to hear You speak. Amen.