Your Personal Guide for Life

by Rick Warren — May 12, 2020

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.”

John 14:16-17 (GW)

My wife, Kay, and I once went to Ireland. We rented a car and drove around the country. At one point, we hired a guide. That person shared insights and experiences that we would have completely missed if we were on our own. We would have picked the wrong restaurants and seen the wrong things. But because we had a personal guide, we had the best experience possible.

In some ways, your life is like that trip. You have the choice of just wandering through on your own or getting a personal guide.

I have good news for you. God has provided you with both a guidebook (the Bible) and a personal guide (the Holy Spirit) for life.

Have you ever thought of why Jesus returned to heaven after his resurrection rather than just staying here on earth? He could have given us an ongoing, physical model of how to live. But he told his followers that it was better for him to leave.

He said: “It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7 GW).

This “helper” is called many names in the Bible, including “Holy Spirit,” “counselor,” and “advocate.”

But how could this helper be better than having Jesus in the flesh?

In John 14, Jesus explains: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 GW).

When Jesus was physically present on earth, he was limited to one location—to wherever his physical body was at the time. But the Holy Spirit can be everywhere. He is in all of Jesus’ followers, helping us all at the same time.

One of the most important things you can learn in life is how to be led by the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:14 says, “Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children” (CEV). If you are a child of God, the Holy Spirit will guide and lead you.

When you start the Christian life, you’re probably not very good at being led by the Spirit. You don’t know his voice. But as your relationship with the Lord grows, you will start to recognize his voice and know where he is leading you.

As you journey through life, don’t do it on your own. Make sure you have the Holy Spirit as your guide. Get to know his voice, and follow where he leads you.

Talk It Over

  • Think of a time you’ve traveled to a new place. How did having (or not having) a guidebook or guide make a difference?
  • How do you recognize the Holy Spirit’s voice?
  • When has the Bible served as a guidebook for your life? When has the Holy Spirit served as a guide?

God’s invitation is wide-open.

No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide-open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know that when I die I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I know I have ignored you. I confessed I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know that I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know that only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from the sins and the habits that are messing up my life right now. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe that you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at [email protected]. I’d love to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.


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