Led by His SpiritSample

Although we know that becoming more like Jesus should be the goal of every believer, sometimes we struggle to put that into practical terms. If we are going to live as Jesus did, we must focus on doing the things that are pleasing to God as He did. Jesus said, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (John 8:29).

To know what pleases God, we must look to His Word. There we learn that we must walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh. Too many times we rationalize sin rather than rejecting it because we value our own pleasure over pleasing God. Because we live in a fallen world and battle the pull of the flesh, it is never going to be possible for us to be completely sinless. But if we are living and walking in the Spirit, earnestly striving to please God rather than to please ourselves, we will resist temptation more and more.

D. L. Moody said, “I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything contrary to God’s law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled.” The Holy Spirit enables us to live in a way that is pleasing to God and becoming more like Christ.