The Holy Spirit is all-knowing. But depending on how long you have been walking with God and how clearly you have learned to discern his voice, it can be difficult to find out what the Holy Spirit is saying. I know many Christians who have a very hard time differentiating between their own ego and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Others aren’t able to differentiate between their own thoughts and those of Holy Spirit.
I can tell you how the leading of the Holy Spirit works in my own life. In some way, the Holy Spirit is there all the time - on his own conditions. Over time I have learned to trust him and he never lets me down. But his agenda is the one we follow, and I can’t force any other way. As I am saying this, you must remember that I have made many mistakes throughout all these years of seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I don’t always understand what is right or wrong right away. Sometimes I have to take a small step and then sense whether or not I’ll be able to figure out what the Holy Spirit is saying and doing. Some times I have rushed forward too quickly, but then the Holy Spirit usually stops me abruptly, which I am thankful for!
I am especially careful about big decisions and carry them meditatively inside of me, and think about them when I am praying. That is when I wait for full assurance in my spirit. What I am describing has to be experienced personally, because when I have full assurance, then I know that it is the Father’s will and that means that it will happen. This assurance has become more and more important to me over the years, and it depends on both what I do in the little things and in the big things. It can be everything from buying a pair of pants to making decisions about a big crusade. The Holy Spirit always knows best.
Another way that I know that I am heading in the right direction is when I feel the anointing. One example is when we started PTL in India. There was so much resistance, mostly from Christians, but each time I spoke about what we were going to do in India, I felt powerful rushes of the presence of God.
So what do I do if I don’t get full assurance in my spirit, or an indication from the anointing? Then either the Holy Spirit tells me that it is wrong, or it gradually fades away on its own. But if I don’t have an assurance in my spirit, I don’t do it.
You may wonder what I do when someone prophesies over me. I listen carefully and carry it inside of me. But if neither assurance nor anointing accompanies the prophecy, then I let it go. If you only knew some of things that have been prophesied over me over the years! Some people have meant well but they haven’t really been prophesying even though they thought they were. But other times, the anointing has been so powerful that all of the hair on my head stood on end! You might think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not! When I write my next book about visions, I’ll tell you more about that experience – I still have that prophecy on a cassette tape!
