The Holy Spirit: Our Guide for What Is Ahead

Reflections on Joshua, Jericho, and Listening to God

Good morning, friends.
How are you today? I trust that you are well and that God has been good to you.

Today I want to share something that stirred my heart during my devotion this morning. I found myself reflecting on the Holy Spirit — who He is and what He does for us.

Many of us have heard about the Holy Spirit. We know the name, we know the concept, but sometimes we don’t fully grasp how active and present He is in our lives.

When Jesus was about to leave the earth, He told His disciples something very comforting. He said that He was going back to the Father, but He would not leave them alone. Instead, He would send them a Comforter — the Holy Spirit.

In the book of John, we are told that the Holy Spirit does many things, but one role stood out to me this morning:

The Holy Spirit guides us and tells us things to come.

Think about that for a moment.

God, who knows everything, did not leave us here to figure life out on our own. Out of His great love for us, He gave us the Holy Spirit to walk with us, guide us, and reveal things ahead of time.

Seeing This Principle in the Story of Joshua

As I have been reading through the Old Testament, I recently moved into the book of Joshua.

In Joshua 1, after Moses died, God spoke directly to Joshua and told him that he would now lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. The Spirit of God was with Joshua, and God began guiding him step by step.

One of the most powerful examples of this guidance happens when the Israelites arrive at the city of Jericho.

Jericho was not a small city. It was a massive, fortified city. The walls were enormous — historians say they were so wide that several chariots could ride side by side on top of them.

The people of Jericho had already heard about the miracles God had done for Israel. They heard how God parted the Red Sea and how He defeated nations ahead of them. Because of this, the entire city was in fear.

Scripture tells us that the city was completely shut. No one was going in and no one was coming out.

Humanly speaking, Jericho looked impossible to conquer.

God’s Strategy Is Always Different

But here is something important to remember:
God is never limited by what looks impossible.

God is the Commander of heaven’s armies.
He is the one who fights our battles.

Instead of giving Joshua a military strategy, God gave him something very unusual.

In Joshua 6, God revealed the exact blueprint for conquering Jericho.

He said:

Seven priests would walk ahead of the Ark of the Covenant

Each priest would carry a ram’s horn

The people would march around the city once a day for six days

On the seventh day they would march around the city seven times

Then the priests would blow the trumpet

And the people would shout

And when they did exactly what God said, the walls of Jericho collapsed.

No human plan could have produced that result. It was the power of God revealed through obedience to His instructions.

God Still Gives Guidance Today

As I reflected on this story, God spoke something to my heart.

He reminded me that the same guidance Joshua received is available to us today through the Holy Spirit.

Now, Joshua did not have the Holy Spirit in the same way we do today, but God still spoke to him and gave him instructions.

Today, we have something even greater — the Holy Spirit living inside us.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit is with us and in us. And when we build a relationship with Him, He can guide us just as clearly.

The Holy Spirit can:

Show us what to do

Reveal what is coming ahead

Give us strategies for the seasons we are in

This means that when we face challenges, we do not have to panic or be overwhelmed.

We can walk forward with confidence because God already knows the outcome.

The Importance of the Quiet Place

This reflection also came with a gentle reminder for me.

Sometimes life becomes so busy.

We are working.
We are parenting.
We are managing responsibilities.

And in the middle of all these urgent things, the most important thing — our quiet time with God — can easily be neglected.

But the quiet place is where intimacy with the Holy Spirit grows.

It is where we receive direction.
It is where God reveals what is ahead.

When we prioritize time with God, we begin to hear Him more clearly. And when we hear Him clearly, we can walk through every season without fear.

My Encouragement to You

So my encouragement today is simple.

If you have not been prioritizing your quiet place with God, return to it.

If the fire on your altar has grown weak, ask God to help you rekindle it.

Make time to sit with Him.
Make time to listen.

Because when we walk closely with the Holy Spirit, He will guide us and show us things ahead of time.

And just like Joshua, we will be able to face every wall in front of us knowing that God has already prepared the victory.

May God draw us closer to Him and help us grow in intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you.