The Holy Spirit emphasised to me during our communion time the importance of us examining how much time we spend focusing on and observing what the Lord is presently saying versus us simply operating from what we believe we already know about hearing the Lord’s voice. Habakkuk 2:1 reminds us the followers of Jesus to take our place of watchfulness, by waiting attentively to see what the Lord will speak to us. The Holy Spirit cautioned about the fact of how easy it is for us to fall into the routine of merely doing things for the Lord based on habit, experience, or previous training, instead of continually yielding to His present leading and guidance.

The Lord directed my attention to Joshua 1:1–7, where Joshua receives the responsibility of leading Israel into the Promised Land after the death of Moses. The Lord speaks extraordinary promises over Joshua’s life, by assuring him of victory, His abiding presence, and success in fulfilling his calling. Yet despite the greatness of these promises, the Holy Spirit highlighted that they were all contingent upon one essential condition found in Joshua 1:8. The blessings promised in verses 1–7 could only become a reality if Joshua faithfully obeyed the Lord’s instructions.

The Holy Spirit therefore desires for us the followers of Jesus to understand what our true priorities must be if we are to make genuine progress in the Kingdom. So rather than us filling our lives with activities we assume are important, we must devote ourselves first to the spiritual disciplines that position us to hear and obey the voice of the Lord. Joshua 1:8 declares these words: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

The Holy Spirit emphasised the fact that under the New Covenant this principle is fulfilled through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which sets believers free from the law of sin and death. This law must not merely occupy our minds but must continually proceed from the believer’s mouth based on our heart believing. Meditation is therefore not just a silent reflection alone, but it includes a continual verbal confession of the Lord’s truth until His Word dominates our heart and to flow through our speech.

The Holy Spirit is challenging us the followers of Jesus to examine how much of what Jesus says about our identity, inheritance, and position in Him is continually being spoken from our mouths throughout each day. Just as Psalm 107:2 declares these words, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” we the followers of Jesus must continually confess the reality of our redemption through the blood of Jesus and speak what the Lord has declared concerning us.

The Holy Spirit then connected this principle with Romans 10:10, which teaches: “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Pointing to the fact that our believing alone is not the complete process. Genuine faith is expressed through our additional confession of what we believe in our hearts.

If what is believed in the heart is never verbalised, the followers of Jesus remain hindered from experiencing the fullness of the Lord’s deliverance and salvation. The continual confession of the Lord’s Word is what strengthens our faith, aligns our hearts with the truth, and positions us to hear the Holy Spirit more clearly.

This continual process of meditation and confession is what enables us as followers of Jesus to observe what the Holy Spirit is revealing. Only after our carefully observing His direction are we equipped to carry out His instructions. It is this sequence of meditating, confessing, observing, and obeying that goes on to produce true prosperity and good success. The path the Holy Spirit reveals is always very different from what appears obvious from a natural perspective.

The Holy Spirit went on to warn us against bypassing this divine process by acting prematurely. Joshua himself illustrates this lesson because many years before becoming Israel’s leader, Joshua had boldly declared, together with Caleb, that Israel should immediately go up and possess the land after spying it out. Although Joshua demonstrated genuine faith, the Holy Spirit pointed out that at that earlier stage he lacked the present instruction of the Lord for the timing of the action which would bring the triumph.

Years later, even after Joshua had matured greatly, the Lord still commanded him to meditate until he observed what to do. This demonstrates that zeal, courage, and faith must always remain submitted to the present voice and direction of the Holy Spirit. Acting merely upon what seems right, or upon our previous revelation without fresh guidance, leads to actions of presumption rather than genuine faith. We as followers of Jesus must patiently wait until the Lord Himself reveals His direction before moving forward.

The Holy Spirit contrasted this with the example of how things operated with Moses, whose attitude was always to refuse movement unless the Lord first moved. Moses understood that following the Lord’s presence always guaranteed triumph, while independent action led only to failure. Likewise, we find that King David consistently demonstrated this principle by continually inquiring of the Lord before taking action. We find that each time David sought the Lord’s guidance, the Lord directed him, resulting in repeated victories and good success.

This explains David’s heartfelt prayer in Psalm 51:11 which reads these words: “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” David recognised that his continued success depended not upon military strength or personal wisdom but upon remaining in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit therefore desires that we as followers of Jesus must position ourselves where we continually receive His guidance from the Holy Spirit before making our decisions. This process requires us spending increased time meditating upon the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus until we clearly observe His pathway.

Once His direction has been revealed, we are to move forward confidently in obedience rather than relying upon personal opinions or natural reasoning. This fact aligns perfectly with the Lord’s declaration in Isaiah 55:8–9, where the Lord reminds His people that His thoughts and His ways are infinitely higher than those of mankind. So only by us yielding to His superior wisdom can we Jesus’s followers advance into His purposes and experience lasting success.

The Holy Spirit concluded this journey of understanding with a call for us to receive fresh grace to resist taking premature action. So rather than rushing ahead based upon our assumptions or personal understanding, we are encouraged to patiently meditate on the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus until we discern the movement of the Holy Spirit. As we follow His leading, we will walk into victorious, triumphant endeavours marked by the Lord’s own supernatural intervention and blessing, as we become living testimonies of His wisdom, guidance, and triumph.

In the mighty name of Jesus, I declare that your heart will become increasingly attentive to the present voice of the Holy Spirit. May every tendency toward presumption, haste, and reliance upon your own understanding be broken from your life and I declare that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will continually fill your heart and proceed from your mouth as you meditate upon His Word day and night.

May your confession remain aligned with Heaven’s truth, thereby strengthening your faith and positioning you to clearly observe the right path the Lord has prepared for you. I declare that you will no longer move ahead of the Lord, nor will you remain behind Him, but you will walk in perfect step with the Holy Spirit’s leading. As you patiently seek His direction and faithfully obey His instructions, may your way become prosperous and may you experience the good success promised in His Word.

Let the wisdom of Heaven surpass every natural opinion, and may every decision you make be established by divine guidance. From this day forward, may your life become a testimony of careful obedience, supernatural direction, triumphant victories, and the unmistakable results that come from following the Holy Spirit in all things in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.