Following the Spirit

In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we see how Paul changes his plans several times because, as he says, “The Spirit prevented me.” Can we say in our own lives that we are listening well enough to the voice of the Spirit that we recognize Him directing us? If not, perhaps we need to spend more time in quiet prayer and learn to listen. Another reason why we may not always hear the Spirit is that the spirit of the age, the evil spirit, may be choking out the voice of the good Spirit.

Often we follow the spirit of the age without even thinking about it. We just go with the flow. Jesus promises us that if we follow after him, the world will hate us. If we’re getting along too comfortably in this life, it’s a good sign that we are probably following the wrong spirit. Likewise, if we are often persecuted and don’t fit in for following the path that Jesus seems to demand, that’s a good sign that we’re on the right track and following the lead of the Holy Spirit. Let’s be sure to take time for prayer so that we hear and follow the right Spirit.