Day 11: Lead Me by Your Spirit
40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
Prayer Focus: Following the Holy Spirit
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”
Romans 8:14 ESV
Yesterday our prayer was:
“Lord, show me Your way.”
Today we take that prayer one step further:
“Holy Spirit, lead me.”
It's possible to ask God for direction and then become so focused on the destination that we forget our dependence upon Him along the journey.
God doesn't simply want to point us toward the right path.
He wants us to walk with Him.
Led by the Spirit
Romans 8 describes the life of a believer as a life led by the Spirit of God.
That means following Jesus isn't simply about making one big decision correctly. It is learning to depend upon the Holy Spirit in the ordinary moments of everyday life.
How should I respond to this person?
Should I speak or remain quiet?
Is there someone I need to encourage?
Is there something I need to surrender?
Is God prompting me to pray for someone?
The more sensitive we become to the Holy Spirit, the more willing we should become to respond when He leads.
Keep in Step
Galatians gives us a simple picture:
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 ESV
Keeping in step means we don't run ahead.
We don't lag behind.
We stay close.
Sometimes we want God to give us instructions for the next six months when He is asking us to follow Him faithfully today.
The Christian life isn't simply receiving directions from God.
It's walking with God.
His Leading Will Agree With His Word
Being led by the Spirit does not mean following every feeling, impression, or emotion.
The Holy Spirit will never lead us contrary to the Word He inspired.
That's why Scripture remains essential during these 40 days.
The more God's Word fills our hearts, the better equipped we become to recognize His leading.
We want to become people who know His Word, recognize His voice, and respond when He leads.
Today's Prayer Focus
Make Me Sensitive
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you attentive to His leading.
Keep Me Close
Ask God to keep you from running ahead or falling behind.
Give Me Discernment
Ask Him to help you distinguish His leading from your own emotions and desires.
Make Me Obedient
Ask for courage to respond when God prompts you to act.
Today's Prayer
Father, thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit.
Teach me to walk closely with You. Make me sensitive to Your leading and quick to obey.
Keep me from running ahead of You or becoming distracted and falling behind.
Let Your Word shape my thinking and give me discernment to recognize Your direction.
Holy Spirit, lead my words, my decisions, my relationships, and my actions today.
I don't simply want directions from You.
I want to walk with You.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Additional Scriptures
Romans 8:12–14
Galatians 5:16–25
John 16:13
Psalm 143:10
Today's Challenge
Before you begin your normal routine today, pray:
“Holy Spirit, lead me today.”
Then pay attention throughout the day.
If you sense a biblical prompting to encourage someone, pray for someone, forgive, give, serve, or obey something God has already shown you:
Don't just notice the prompting. Respond to it.
Day 10: Lord, show me Your way.
Day 11: Holy Spirit, lead me.
