As believers, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:38). At the moment of conversion, he comes to dwell within us, and one of the ways he makes his presence known is through promptings within our spirit. Following these prompts is part of what it means to “walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16)

In the book, Walking Wisely, Charles Stanley explains: “A prompting is like a flash of lightning in a person’s spirit that creates an almost immediate knowing of which way to turn, what to do, what to say, how to respond. The prompting comes with a deep assurance and confidence that the choice or decision is right.”

This raises a few questions that need to be answered so that we can live confidently in the will of God.

1. Are promptings different than intuition?

Intuition is a gift of common grace and part of being created in God’s image. Unbelievers may experience a sudden instinctive feeling about something and act on it without thinking. People have often attributed a “gut feeling” to the Holy Spirit and followed that “sixth sense” right into disobedience. Remember that the devil schemes against us and seeks to deceive us through our own emotions. What “feels right” may be dead wrong in the eyes of God.

As Christians, intuition is a tool the Spirit uses to direct us. However, he will never lead contrary to the Word of God.

2. How can I know a prompting is from the Holy Spirit?

Knowing when the Spirit is prompting you is one reason to begin each day in the Word and in prayer. Ask God to make your heart sensitive to his leading. Then, as you go through the day, don’t doubt the prompting but confidently act on it. As you do, the Spirit will impart a sense of peace in knowing you followed his leading. Failing to follow the Spirit’s leading will result in a sense of unrest. He will convict you and in your spirit you will know that he is grieved (see Ephesians 4:30).

Failing to follow the Spirit’s leading will result in a sense of unrest.

3. What hinders the work of the Spirit in me?

The Bible speaks clearly about the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16-25). Our sinful nature is opposed to the Spirit’s leading. His promptings often involve doing something inconvenient or costly. Obedience to his guidance can be very humbling, even emotionally painful. Have you ever felt him leading you to apologize or admit you were wrong? To make amends or restitution for past failures?

If you have failed to heed the leading of the Holy Spirit you must acknowledge it as sin, confess it to God, and receive his forgiveness. Then, by the grace of God, determine to follow him no matter what he asks of you.

4. Will obeying the Spirit’s prompts always have positive outcomes?

I recently read a story about a woman who lived next door to an unbeliever for over 35 years. The contact between this believing woman and her non-religious neighbor was, at best, infrequent. But one day she felt a pang of guilt for her lack of concern for the woman’s soul. Taking a jar of homemade soup, she went next door and shared the gospel with the woman who expressed no interest in what she had to say. Her rejection in no way suggests the impulse was wrong. Following the Spirit’s leading will not always produce the outcome one may desire. It is enough to do the will of God and leave the results to him.