Listen to the Spirit

“Also draw out the spear and the lance against those who pursue me; say to my soul, I am your salvation.” (Psalms 35:3)

In this psalm, David prays for protection from his enemies and the Lord’s help for victory over them. In this particular verse David prays for the Lord to fight for him against his enemies. David found himself in many battles. He realized two things. He realized that the battle belongs to the Lord. It is the Lord Who fights for us.

Throughout the Old Testament, God tells the Israelites that the battle is not theirs, but that the Lord will fight for them. (Exodus 14:14, 25; 2Chronicles 20:15; Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22; Nehemiah 4:20; Joshua 23:3, to name a few) In the New Testament, the battle is won. Jesus conquered our enemy.  We are conquerors. “But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) We are overcomers and victorious. “For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” (1John 5:4) While we do still have wars and use weapons, we don’t use spears nor lances. The Lord has given us His authority and His victory against every enemy. “Behold, I give to you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the authority of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)

David prayed that the Lord would speak to his soul (mind, will and emotions) that He is his salvation. When we are under attack, our soul is troubled. It was in David’s time, thinking of strategy, praying, listening to the Lord’s direction, leading his men, the burden of their lives and their families. It was a big responsibility for David. Today, we have our soldiers to fight the battles. But even if we don’t go to war, there is a war of sorts happening in our lives over dominion over our lives. It’s a war between the spirit and the flesh and the world. There are demonic attacks with a purpose to derail us, distract us and destroy us. There is the world and the flesh with their demands against the spirit trying to influence our souls (mind, will, emotions). David prayed for the Lord to speak to his soul. One word from the Lord changes everything. The Lord’s Word is a washing, a wisdom and knowledge beyond what is happening. It can change our hearts. “A man's heart plans his way, but Jehovah directs his steps.” (Proverbs 6:9) A word from the Lord can make us change direction.

Our soul can be influenced by the world, our society norms or culture. We may not even be aware that it’s against God because “everyone is doing it.” This is why reading the Word of God is essential. David was aware of this. He prays for the Lord to speak to his soul and input God’s mind, will and emotions in his soul.

Jesus prayed, “O righteous Father, indeed the world has not known You; but I have known You, and these have known that You have sent me.” (John 17:25) We cannot know God’s heart unless we have the Holy Spirit Who is given to those who believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit knows God’s heart and can communicate to us God’s desires to us. It is the rivers of living water that flow from God in our hearts. “And in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (But He spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37-39) Now Jesus has been glorified. And any who comes to Him receives the Holy Spirit Who gives us the knowledge of the Father’s heart, the Father’s desire and the Father’s direction. It influences our mind, will and emotions to act holy and righteously.

Lastly, David who was known to be a man after God’s heart, knew that his soul did not have the influence of the Spirit, but he knew that God could speak into his soul and change everything. The Holy Spirit hadn’t been given, but David prayed for God to speak to his soul and to influence his soul. Today, we don’t have to ask for the Spirit to speak to our soul. The Holy Spirit indwells and is always speaking God’s Will and way into our soul. “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.” (John 16:13) It’s up to us to receive what the Holy Spirit is saying by listening to the Holy Spirit Who knows God’s heart and desire.