Hey Friend!
Have you often wondered if the Holy Spirit was talking to you or if you were building the thought yourself? Who is the Holy Spirit? What is it like when He speaks to you? How do I know if it isn’t just last night’s pizza? Should you take action on what you think you’re hearing?
4 Phases to Know if Holy Spirit Is Leading You to Take Action
I will give you four phases to help you discern if the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and whether you should act on what you hear.
So Who Is the Holy Spirit?
Holy Spirit is a real entity. A real person. A part of the triune. God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-8 says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you. When He has come, He will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and judgment.”
Jesus promises to give us the Holy Spirit to help us. When we acknowledge Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to lead us and help us make Godly choices. He helps us discern right from wrong and walk in God’s path for our lives.
What Is a Spiritual Nudge From the Holy Spirit?
Jesuswalk.com describes this beautifully: “An inarticulate expression in my mind to do this or that or not to do something. These are usually whispers that don’t come articulated in the form of a complete sentence or even in words.”
It is important to go through the four phases to know, feel peace, and be confident that you are doing the right thing and taking action on something that God wants for you.
4 Phases to Know if Holy Spirit Is Speaking to You
Phase 1 – An Unshakable Thought
- Holy Spirit tugging starts as a tiny little thought that comes into your mind and begins to poke at you. *Ping Ping….maybe I should do this…*
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
- You can rest assured that a thought can be planted by God to help lead you. Thoughts come and go, but an unshakable thought, whether unshakable for a week or years, if it keeps coming back, is worth looking at.
- Sometimes there are inarticulate impressions in your mind. When they come in the form of a thought, they can come very powerfully, or they can come as a whisper.
Phase 2 – Holy Spirit’s Leading Will Come With Doubt and Fear
Why would it come with doubt and fear? Because we are human, and we don’t know the outcome. It is typically outside of your comfort zone, something that causes you to do something disruptive in your own life, the start or stop of something new or old. In a nutshell, it’s uncomfortable.
Phase 3 – Holy Spirit’s Leading Transitions Into a Feeling or Heart Positioning
- It feels like your heart is pulling, and doors start opening where you see this is possible.
- This is when the feelings start to help you know it is from the Holy Spirit.
- Heart positioning is where your heart aligns with Holy Spirit’s heart and now you are working together.
Phase 4 – Holy Spirit Prompts You to Take Action
You will feel prompted to act. There is nothing you can do to stop yourself from acting in what you feel led to do. This is how you know for sure that this is from the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is speaking to you. You are spiritually being convicted to move.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Do you keep having a recurring unshakable thought?
- What are some of the doubts and fears surrounding that unshakable thought? Find scripture that counteracts that doubt and fear. Speak them over your life.
- What would it feel like if you followed through with that unshakable thought? Ask the what-if questions about the possibilities and allow yourself to sit with those feelings.
- What is the first step of following through with your unshakable thought? Pray over the first step and then go take action immediately.
Don’t even think about it. It’s time to act. If you aren’t sure, pray. He will give you the yes if it is Holy Spirit. But if you already have the yes, it is time to act!
John 14:17 says “The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
Holy Spirit Is a Truth Bringer
Holy Spirit is a Truth Bringer, a Truth Speaker, and there is truth over your life. The truth of God reigns. The truth of where you are being called to go is available for you. It is time to say yes to the Holy Spirit’s leading. If you have discerned that He is speaking to you, it is time to take action on that very first step.
Take these four phases to heart and watch the Holy Spirit transform your life! Only He knows where He is taking you. I pray you step out in faith and say yes to taking your first step.
Has Holy Spirit Been Nudging You to Start a Podcast for a Bigger Impact?
This was the nudge I received that led to my business as you know it today. God’s plan is so much bigger than our dreams can ever be! If you feel Holy Spirit leading you to start a podcast, you have to check out my Profitable Podcast Bootcamp! You have nothing to lose, and clarity to gain to see if it’s the right next step for your business or ministry. Get signed up today at Profitable Podcast Bootcamp.
I pray this blesses you!
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That is such a sweet comment! Thank you so much, and may God bless you! – Team Stef
I’m sorry, but I don’t entirely agree with this. I think in the context of someone struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or another anxiety disorder, there are some feelings of compulsion that may be camouflaged as a pressing feeling as this article described. Yes I do agree there are going to be times we need to take action immediately in certain moments but especially those who struggle with anxiety and a calloused heart, I think discerning every thought/feeling and taking each one captive is important before acting on any nudges we perceive to be given from the Holy Spirit. It’s easy to perceive thoughts that come from an anxious heart to be from God if we’re not alert.
That being said it’s admirable that Stefanie was able to build up this business and I do definitely see God’s hand playing at work. I could also be misinterpreting things in this article as well.
Janice, thank you so much for sharing your heart, we are so grateful to share this space with you. You mentioned OCD/other anxiety disorders and how some feelings of compulsion may be camouflaged as a pressing feeling. We agree with you. God is so good to give us words and the ability to express ourselves through them, don’t you think?
I believe you were referring to Phase 1 where it mentioned “a thought can be planted by God”. That word “can” is important because it’s not an absolute to say all thoughts are from God. Additionally, the second to last bullet mentioned “…is worth looking at…”. This is important as well because it encourages us to press in deeper with God and not just assume it’s from Him. This 100% aligns with your thought of being mindful we don’t assume all thoughts (that we’ve experienced more than once) are from God.
This episode will bless you too:
Episode 326 | 5 Ways to Discern Between an Opportunity or Distraction
-Stef Gass + Team
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