Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.—1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV)

Confused, I stared at the pretty arrangement of white flowers circling one single pink rose. For weeks I had prayed, “Lord, if he’s the one, have him bring me pink flowers.” Well, there were flowers—and one of them was pink. Did this mean he was the one? My friends and I were undecided—some thought yes, others no.

So often during my early days as a Christian, I prayed for God to show me His will through a sign—by answering my prayers in specific ways. Only that time the answer taught a clear lesson: God will not allow Himself to be put in a box.

In the same way, when Jesus walked on this Earth, people struggled because He refused to conform to the box they had built for their Messiah. He healed on the Sabbath (John 5:16), hung out with sinners and tax collectors (Luke 7:34), and refused to establish an earthly kingdom (John 6:15). 

I see the same pattern in how we view the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It seems everyone has some preconceived ideas about Him. For years I believed the Holy Spirit’s only role is to help us understand Scripture. But the more I study the Apostle Paul’s letters, the more I realize how this perspective tries to place the Holy Spirit in a box. Or, in the words of Paul, it is a form of “quenching the Spirit”:

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 NIV)

In these verses Paul reveals the attitude Christians should have toward the Holy Spirit. Paul didn’t want the Christians to quench, or extinguish, the Spirit’s influence in their lives. At the same time, he encouraged the Thessalonians to test the manifestations of the Spirit—in this case prophecies. His advice holds true for any guidance we receive from the Spirit. 

My initial understanding of the Spirit’s role blinded me to the different ways He communicates with me. Sometimes He guides me with a still, small voice that penetrates my thoughts. Other times I feel a persistent urging toward (or against) a certain task or action. He often catches my attention through Godwinks—two or more events which happen close together and convey the same message. He has also redirected my steps by opening and closing opportunities.

At first the idea of following the Spirit’s lead felt daunting. It isn’t always easy to distinguish our own voice from that of the Spirit. In those situations we, like the Thessalonians, can test the messages we hear against the Word of God. The Spirit will never prompt us to violate God’s commands. And I’ve learned He is powerful enough to redirect our steps whenever we misinterpret His message. 

Refusing to quench the Spirit isn’t always easy. It often requires letting go of our preconceived ideas about Him. But when we do, it enriches our relationship with Him. 

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for trusting us with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us set aside any preconceived ideas we have about Him. We pray to never quench the Spirit, but to test the messages we receive. May we learn to recognize His voice and follow His guidance. We pray this in the name of Your son Jesus. Amen.