Living by the Spirit, Not by Strength

Let Him Lead: The Power of a Life Fully Surrendered

God is unchanging in His character. He loves righteousness and justice, and His steadfast love fills the earth.
“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5)

From the breath in our lungs to the beauty of creation, His presence surrounds us with purpose and grace. But His work in us does not stop at salvation. The same Spirit who gives us life now calls us to walk in step with Him daily.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)

To experience the fullness of His power and purpose, we must surrender. Not just once, but continually. We must yield every part of ourselves to the leading of the Spirit. Only then do we truly live the life God designed.

God never operates by impulse or mood. Every decision He makes and every act He performs flows from His unchanging nature. He always approves what is good and right. He never justifies sin, never excuses rebellion, and never turns His face from justice. He forgives sin through grace, but He does not dismiss it as harmless or sweep it aside as though it carries no weight. His justice is pure. His verdicts are flawless. And His heart remains full of compassion.

This balance between holiness and love is not something He juggles. It is who He is. The Lord does not shift between roles or compromise one attribute for another. His justice is not harsh. His love is not soft. They are both perfect, and they both remain forever. David captured this truth when he wrote that the earth is full of the Lord’s steadfast love. This is not poetic exaggeration. It is a reality we live in every day. From the vast beauty of nature to the smallest provisions we receive, His love is on display.

At the moment of salvation, God places His Spirit within every believer. This is not symbolic. It is spiritual reality. The Holy Spirit takes residence and never departs. This is the fulfillment of the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, as stated in Hebrews 13:5. But His presence within us does not automatically mean we live lives filled with His power. Being led by the Spirit requires something far more challenging. Our surrender.

This is where many believers struggle. We want the benefits of God’s presence without yielding control. We want peace, strength, guidance, and joy, but we want it without giving up our own agenda. But God does not work that way. His Spirit cannot lead someone who insists on leading themselves. If we resist His authority, we will miss what He wants to do in and through us.

The life God has called us to is not meant to be lived by human effort. We cannot overcome sin in our own strength. We cannot fulfill our purpose by leaning on our understanding. We cannot love as He loves or give as He gives or endure as He enables unless His Spirit is leading every part of our lives. The filling of the Holy Spirit is God's provision for supernatural living. It is how we become who He made us to be. It is how we accomplish the assignments He designed for us.

But He does not force it on us. He invites us into it.

Sometimes He places in us a deep hunger to know Him more. This longing is His gift to draw us closer. Other times, He allows us to experience the frustration of our own efforts. Our failures become lessons. Our exhaustion becomes a mirror, showing us what happens when we try to live the Christian life in the flesh. And sometimes, He uses the witness of another believer. Someone walking in power and peace to stir up a desire for more. These moments are not random. They are orchestrated by God to help us see what is possible when we surrender.

The filling of the Spirit is not a one-time event. It is not an emotional high or a temporary experience. It is the daily reality of letting God lead. It happens as we release one area of control after another. It is the quiet, consistent decision to trust His will above our own. It is letting Him speak into the places we would rather manage ourselves. As the Father lovingly reveals areas we have kept in our grip, we must be willing to open our hands.

The more we yield, the more He fills. The more He fills, the more we change. And the more we change, the more His power flows through us into the world around us.

This is the life God offers. A life of peace that is not shaken by circumstance. A life of strength that is not based on ability. A life of love that surpasses human understanding. A life that reflects Him.

But it all begins with surrender.

Let go of control. Let go of fear. Let go of striving.

And let Him lead.