How can I recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit?

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples that He would
send one who would teach and guide all those who believe in Him (Acts
1:5; John 14:26; 16:7). Jesus' promise was fulfilled less than two
weeks later when the Holy Spirit came in power on the believers at
Pentecost (Acts 2). Now, when a person believes in Christ, the Holy
Spirit immediately becomes a permanent part of his life (Romans 8:14;
1 Corinthians 12:13).

The Holy Spirit has many functions. Not only does He distribute
spiritual gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7–11), but He
also comforts us (John 14:16, KJV), teaches us (John 14:26), and
remains in us as a seal of promise upon our hearts until the day of
Jesus' return (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). The Holy Spirit also takes on
the role of Guide and Counselor, leading us in the way we should go
and revealing God's truth (Luke 12:12; 1 Corinthians 2:6–10).

But how do we recognize the Spirit's guidance? How do we discern
between our own thoughts and His leading? After all, the Holy Spirit
does not speak with audible words. Rather, He guides us through our
own consciences (Romans 9:1) and other quiet, subtle ways.

One of the most important ways to recognize the Holy Spirit's guidance
is to be familiar with God's Word. The Bible is the ultimate source of
wisdom about how we should live (2 Timothy 3:16), and believers are to
search the Scriptures, meditate on them, and commit them to memory
(Ephesians 6:17). The Word is the "sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians
6:17), and the Spirit will use it to speak to us (John 16:12–14) to
reveal God's will for our lives; He will also bring specific
Scriptures to mind at times when we need them most (John 14:26).

Knowledge of God's Word can help us to discern whether or not our
desires come from the Holy Spirit. We must test our inclinations
against Scripture—the Holy Spirit will never prod us to do anything
contrary to God's Word. If it conflicts with the Bible, then it is not
from the Holy Spirit and should be ignored.

It is also necessary for us to be in continual prayer with the Father
(1 Thessalonians 5:17). Not only does this keep our hearts and minds
open to the Holy Spirit's leading, but it also allows the Spirit to
speak on our behalf: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will"
(Romans 8:26–27).

Another way to tell if we are following the Spirit's leading is to
look for signs of His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). If we walk
in the Spirit, we will continue to see these qualities grow and mature
in us, and they will become evident to others as well.

It is important to note that we have the choice whether or not to
accept the Holy Spirit's guidance. When we know the will of God but do
not follow it, we are resisting the Spirit's work in our lives (Acts
7:51; 1 Thessalonians 5:19), and a desire to follow our own way
grieves Him (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit will never lead us into sin.
Habitual sin will cause us to miss what the Holy Spirit wants to say
to us through the Word. Being in tune with God's will, turning from
and confessing sin, and making a habit of prayer and the study of
God's Word will allow us to recognize—and follow—the Spirit's leading.