Following the Holy Spirit

I am a work-in-progress on following the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is talked about in the Bible, as the third person of our One God along with the Father and Jesus.  But, how do we relate to the Holy Spirit?

There’s not much description in the Bible about how it works. Often I wonder, is this my voice in my head coming up with a thought, or is this God through the Holy Spirit telling me?

Most of the time when it seemed like God was telling me something, it made sense later that it truly was God. Because it was good. You get the impulse to give someone a hug and they hold on tight… they really needed it. You find out later that a few kind words you said were very impactful. There have been a few times when I knew it was God speaking through me to someone. And I could tell it was good, just what that person needed.

Recently I got the strongest signal I have ever had. No, God did not talk to me in an audible voice. But it was the strongest ever sense of “you have to do this!”

The task was to help out friends who were definitely in a tough place. “Ok God, I am getting better at listening, got it!”  I told them that “the Holy Spirit is telling me to help you”. Nothing happened. Then they reached out and we met and I told them what God had given me. But the situation was very challenging. It was going to be very hard.

Here’s another recent time I felt the Holy Spirit prodding me in a much lighter vein.  I applied for a Crystal Mountain employee discount for a Libtech Orca snowboard (made in Washington) and got the discount. Well, the discount was not much. But another friend got the same snowboard and said it was great.  So I decided I would buy one. $700 list price. I have to make sure a board is wide enough for my size 12 feet so my boots don't drag in the turns.  Libtech makes a wide version.

Up at the Crystal Mountain ski area, Cindy and I went to a raffle at the Snorting Elk bar to benefit the Crystal Mountain fire department. Cindy bought $55 worth of raffle tickets. We met some people we work with up there. Then they started going through the raffle items and we won a small trinket. A guy in our group really wanted to win the snowboard but he did not. I said “I never win anything” because I don't. They left and they gave us their raffle tickets.

There was some confusion about whether the raffle was over for the night.  I felt a nudge to stay. 2 hours later - more raffle. We started winning with their tickets and ours. Three hotel stays, free lift tickets, and then the snowboard came up. (Like I said, I never win anything.)

The first ticket was announced.  Not us.  But, no one claimed the ticket, so they drew again. Second ticket - I won! I went up and grabbed the snowboard. It was a Libtech Skunk Ape, made for a big ape like me, 6 feet tall, 220 pounds. Wide enough for my big size 12 boots with the same features as the Orca. $700 retail.

On the way back to the car I thought, OK God, this is a pretty clear signal it is good to follow the Holy Spirit. Coincidence? Not likely. The more I see little “miracles” like this the more I believe they are not a coincidence. I will keep doing what the Holy Spirit tells me to.