7 Subtle Traps to Avoid (As You Seek the Leading of the Spirit)

There are traps to watch out for — as you seek the Spirit’s leading.

The Holy Spirit yearns to lead you every single moment. Jesus lived that way throughout His 33 years on earth. Indeed, those led by the Spirit are the sons of God. Romans 8:14.

Nonetheless, as gracious as the leading of the Spirit is, the adversary sets his vicious traps around it.

7 Enemy Traps to Avoid (As You Seek the Leading of the Spirit) Click To Tweet

Now, like you can miss your route on a journey, it’s possible to make mistakes as you seek the Spirit’s leading.

As believers, we still possess deposits of the fallen nature deep within our souls. This human nature, fueled by the enemy of our soul, can taint the Spirit’s leading as they come to us.

Our human nature, fueled by the enemy of our soul, can taint the Spirit’s leading as they come to us. Click To Tweet

Hence, it’s important to take heed so you can get the leading of the Spirit right.

So, now, let’s uncover pitfalls to avoid as you seek the Spirit’s leading in different areas of your life.

1. Flouting God’s Word

The enemy will do everything he can to make you deprioritize the Word.

Why? He knows the Word of God is your only safe place for leading.

God’s Word will forever stand as the key instrument for leading and guiding you. Thus, the adversary sets his trap here. He inspires you to look down on the truth of God’s Word.

Many agree to prophecies, dreams, and visions without scrutinizing them with the Word. That’s about the fastest way to go wrong in leading.

Rev. Hagin shared the story of a married man (a believer), who felt led to marry another married woman. Of course, that’s nothing but the enemy’s deception.

That feeling flouts God’s Word and can never be the Spirit’s leading.

Many agree to prophecies, dreams, and visions without scrutinizing them with the Word. That's about the fastest way to go wrong in leading! Click To Tweet

You see, when you disregard God’s Word, there’d be no ground for the Spirit to speak. You’ll be out of His radar!

Also, bear in mind that the Holy Spirit will lead you chiefly through the Word you’ve stored up in your heart. Thus, ignoring the Word will limit your ability to pick His leading.

The Word of God is crucial (and this can’t be said enough). You don’t want to jeopardize it if you desire to be led by the Spirit.

When you disregard God’s Word, there'd be no ground for the Spirit to speak. You’ll be out of His radar! Click To Tweet

2. Seeking “Spectacular” guidance

We all admire breathtaking occurrences.

Wait … who doesn’t love to see angels descending and ascending a ladder between heaven and earth? We all love eye-popping visions and probably golden signs in the skies.

Yes … we enjoy astonishing prophecies and predictions about the future.

Truly, spectacular guidance happens. They are provided by the Holy Spirit through any of the nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Such spiritual manifestations leave tangible impressions on our souls.

However, despite the beauty of spectacular manifestations in guidance, God never promised to lead believers that way in the New Testament.

Why? It’s a different dispensation from the old. Now, as a believer, the Holy Ghost indwells you. He bears witness with your spirit that you’re are a child of God (Romans 8:16).

Despite the beauty of spectacular occurrences, God never promised to lead believers that way in the New Testament. Click To Tweet

So, it’s not spiritually ethical to hang the leading of the Spirit on spectacular manifestations. Do you know evil spirits can mimic the gifts of the Spirit? See 1 Corinthians 12:2. In fact, the Bible reveals Satan can manifest as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Doubtlessly, many believers have been misled as they seek some special leading. They got into trouble seeking spectacular guidance.

The Lord does lead through dreams, visions, miracles and signs, as well as through prophecies. But it’s never spiritually safe to seek to be led in these spectacular ways.

Spectacular guidance or leading should occur only as the Lord wills. Hence, make sure you steer clear of this deadly trap by the enemy.

3. Ignoring the company of believers

Seclusion is a terrible snare of the devil derailing many believers – young and old. Remember, Apostle Paul, admonished the Hebrew Christians not to neglect the gathering of believers.  

Some believers believe they can go all the way on this spiritual journey on their own. That’s never safe, friend.

It’s a spiritual culture to stay in fellowship with other brethren. Fellowshipping with faithful brethren provides a safe haven for you. That’s a safe place to submit your leading, so you can avoid the devil’s snares.

You see, as you learn the leading of the Spirit, you should never outgrow the company of believers. The Word says, “In the multitude of counsellors there’s safety.”

Fellowshipping with faithful brethren provides a safe haven for you. Click To Tweet

That said, ignoring the company of believers is a pitfall you need to eschew as you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

4. Despising spiritual authority

Many are careful about submitting convictions to their pastors. Some also feel they don’t need their Pastor’s counsel. But, imagine a Timothy without a Paul (1 Timothy 1:2) or a Samuel without an Eli (1 Samuel 3:9).

Timothy and Samuel could have been misled had they not submitted to Elders in the faith.

The word “Pastor” connotes shepherd or Elder. And, of course, a shepherd or an Elder is meant to lead or guide.

A true and faithful pastor will help you discover the leading of the Spirit. That’s why you need to ask God to lead you to one who can feed and nurture you spiritually.

On the whole, avoid the pitfall of not submitting to spiritual authority. Make sure you submit your convictions to faithful and mature brethren—your pastor especially.

A true and faithful pastor will help you discover the leading of the Spirit. Click To Tweet

5. Focusing more on the natural

Focusing so much on the natural than the Spirit would draw you back in your quest for leading. That’s another snare you need to avoid.

If you’re carnally minded, you’ll most likely fall into error hearing the Spirit of God.

You have to understand you are not just a natural being. You are a spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. If you desire to be led by the Spirit, you’ll have to develop your soul to be spiritual.

Many believers are not spirit-conscious, and they expect to be led while they wallow in carnality. Ouchh…it doesn’t happen that way! You won’t find a diamond deposit on a bare surface.

If you desire to be led by the Spirit, you’ll have to develop your soul to be spiritual. Click To Tweet

To avoid the pitfall of concentrating more on the natural, you need to heighten your spirit-consciousness, so that you can more easily be led.

How do you achieve these? Here are a few ways:

• Listen to messages and excellent Christian materials. Rev. Hagin’s messages and books are great resources for believers.

• Stay on the Word. It’s imperative to read and study God’s Word. That way, your emotion would align with the Word. God’s Word would set your thinking above the natural plane.

• Pray in the spirit (in tongues): Build up your spiritual energy by praying in tongues. Jude 20. When you pray in tongues, you become more sensitive to the Spirit.

6. Discarding patience

Patience is integral to the leading of the Spirit. If you disdain this spiritual attitude, you’re likely to miss divine guidance. And, of course, that could be debilitating.

Anyone who can’t wait will find it hard listening to the voice of the Spirit and obeying.

Sometimes, the leading may not be according to your timing, and you might have to wait. Thus, you need the training of patience to truly follow through with the leading of the Spirit.

Anyone who can't "wait" will find it burdensome listening to the voice of the Spirit and obeying. Click To Tweet

Doubtlessly, patience is a true test of leading.

If you want it now and now, then your leading is in question.

To make the most of leading, you must embrace patience in every ramification. Discarding patience, therefore, is a pitfall you need to avoid.

7. Formulating leading

It’s possible to fabricate leading. Yes. Quite possible.

Imagine someone has a premonition of how things ought to be—and there he goes, “I’m led by the Spirit!”

But, making up leading would shield you from God’s best. You want to avoid this snare by all means.

The Bible says,

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

PROVERBS 14:12

Remember, only God knows the end from the beginning. So, following His leading, is the smartest thing to do.

Only God knows the end from the beginning. So, following His leading, is the smartest thing to do. Click To Tweet

Avoid this pitfall of fabricating leadings by yourself. Endeavour to wait for the Spirit’s leading. Waiting for His guidance is always worth it. Don’t miss this adventure in the spirit!

Proving your leading…

Finally, to avoid the pitfalls mentioned earlier in this article, you have to prove your leading.

When you feel led, prove it. When someone prophesies to you, prove it. When you see a vision, prove it too. That’s the way to stay safe.

1 John 4:1 says,

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

So, don’t just accept leadings straightaway, no matter how convincing they may be! Ensure to do your checks:

1. Check up your leading with what’s in your spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22).
2. Scrutinize your leading with the Word.
3. Submit your conviction to matured brethren in the faith, your pastor especially.

Remember you can never go wrong when you adhere to the WORD. So, stay safe as you receive and fulfil God’s leading for you!