You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that we all are pretty much self-centered and very selfish if left to our own devices. For many of us, it’s just a matter of degrees of difference between the two. If left unchecked, "It’s all about me, you see.”
I can so easily blind myself to Holy Spirit opportunities at work in daily life. Sometimes, I can also fool myself by either listening to Satan while posing as the angel of light, or following my own desires disguised as feelings of righteousness. Therefore, I’m cautious to claim that something is from the Holy Spirit—it can be a very dangerous thing.
Bottom line upfront: Please take the Holy Spirit Sensitivity Assessment - https://bttb.org/HolySpiritSensitivity
Remember, assessments like this aren’t about judgment but growth. This is a tool for honest self-reflection and an opportunity to invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate areas where He wants to work more deeply in your life.
Ever since I became a Christ Follower, I have struggled with knowing if that tiny voice I hear once in a while is really the Holy Spirit nudging me forward or my own convoluted, self-righteous, self-satisfying will that’s fooling me.
Yes, I know the Bible sets up very clear criteria that many of us know by heart. Some examples that come to mind are: the Spirit’s leading cannot be against God’s will; sensing that inner peace; finding alignment with Scripture; or confirmation through wise counsel (to name a few).
However, it doesn’t help or encourage me at all to hear ministry leaders or fellow believers who go around saying that God told them directly to do something, or “God gave me a ‘word.’” I’m not trying to be judgmental, but I can’t help but remember how my self-serving will interferes and gets in the way. Thus, when you say, “God told me directly,” my red flags start flying.
Therefore, I think many of us will agree that this is one of the biggest understatements in the Bible about the Holy Spirit: “You cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” Scanning Scripture, it describes the Holy Spirit's influence as both subtle and profound, but in this example, Jesus compares the Spirit to wind:
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
This metaphor tells us that while the Spirit's presence may not always be obvious, its effects are real and discernible. Still, oftentimes, we are left wondering.
The exact reasons why and when the Holy Spirit talks to us, much less how it happens, will always be partially a mystery. Just like the wind, we can't really see it or predict everything about it. The work of the Holy Spirit is something we’ll never completely understand. However, we can trust and know that the Spirit is at work because God promises it. Why and how to tell—we’ll tackle what the Bible gives us next week. Please prepare now and be considering these things by taking the Holy Spirit Sensitivity Assessment.
Why take it? The Holy Spirit's guidance is essential for a vibrant Christian life, yet we can gradually become less sensitive to His leading without realizing it. Just as physical blindness often develops slowly, spiritual blindness can creep in through subtle choices and habits. This assessment serves as a spiritual health check-up. Please consider letting it help you identify where you might be unknowingly resisting the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. It can also help you identify patterns in your spiritual life that could be diminishing your sensitivity to God’s voice.
Start the New Year right by taking the assessment at: https://bttb.org/HolySpiritSensitivity
-Arnie
