Length: 4 minutes

It is awesome to know that, as believers, we can be given knowledge and foresight by God’s Spirit inside of us. God can literally put His own thoughts into our minds. And while that is a reality, not every thought that pops into your head is God.

I don’t mean any of this to confuse you, if you really believe you’ve heard from God about something. At the same time, it is vitally important to know that just because you have the Holy Spirit inside of you does not mean that every thought that passes through your mind is the Lord. By far, no. Of course, as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus, our physical thoughts become more of the Lord and less of us. But as we grow, we think lots of things each day that the Lord did not put there.

Many people get thoughts that make them afraid, or thoughts that worry and concern them, and still wonder whether they are of God or not. Let me tell you, any thought that makes you afraid, or worried, or concerned in the slightest is either not God’s word at all or a severe misunderstanding, if He is speaking to you.

The Holy Spirit would never initiate fear, worry, or guilt in you (2 Timothy 1:7).  Why would the Holy Spirit never tell you something that makes you fearful or condemned? Simply said, because of Jesus, there is nothing fearful or condemning to tell you. Our reality in Christ is nothing but joy and peace (Galatians 5:22, Romans 14:17). In fact, the Bible says that the more we learn about our present reality in Christ, the more that knowledge casts out fear. It doesn’t add fear.

1 John 4:10, 18 (NKJV) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son… There is no fear in love [in Jesus’ provision]; but perfect love casts out fear…

Jesus delivered us from all of our fears (Psalms 34:4) and He bore all our condemnation already (Romans 8:1). So why will the Holy Spirit never tell you something fearful, worrisome, or condemning? Because there’s nothing fearful left to tell you, in Christ. The Holy Spirit isn’t trying to put a positive spin on things. He’s only interested in speaking the truth of Jesus (1 John 4:2)! It just so happens that, in truth, there’s nothing fearful or condemning left to say to you. Jesus took it all!

It’s not that everything that sounds good is the Holy Spirit. There are certainly a lot of positivity teachers that aren’t teaching Jesus. But everything the Holy Spirit says to a believer is going to be really good! It’s not called the good news for nothing.

So be careful what thoughts you credit to God. Some things are God, and some things are not. Is it in line with what Jesus did for you? Does it contradict a provision that Jesus made for you? As you continue to spend time meditating on Jesus, that will make you the most sensitive to the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

Acknowledging Jesus will make you as discerning as possible as to whether that thought is from God or not. But one thing you know… If it’s fearful, worrisome, condemning, or sad, you either haven’t heard from God at all or are grossly misinterpreting His word; because in Christ, there’s simply nothing fearful to tell you. 

The Holy Spirit will always speak to you in line with the truth of Jesus. And the only realities left for you, in Christ, are righteousness, peace, and joy! Thank you, Jesus!

Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

If this blessed you, share this with someone else. More people need to understand this awesome truth.