Standing in a Sunday service, the communion table set before us, the worship team wonderfully leading us into His Presence with beautiful words and music, friends all around—when my mind and spirit were assaulted by this overwhelming sense of failure, worthlessness and torment. Tormenting thoughts of why aren’t you doing more for the Kingdom began to swirl around in my mind, making me feel so bad that I wanted to run from the service. I began to fight these thoughts by praying in the Spirit, deliberately focusing my mind on Him and rebuking Satan. The struggle was quite real and the feeling of being a disappointment to our God was so strong. I began to cry out “help me, Lord”—as my mind began racing trying to defend myself against these thoughts by going through all the things I had “done” for Him while immediately counteracting it with “it’s not all about me” or how much I’ve accomplished, it is solely about obedience and accomplishing His assignments for my life.

What was going on? Finally His Spirit cut through this mental chaos with the question “How much would you have to do for me each week to feel good about yourself?” I immediately knew that these tormenting thoughts were from Satan and are never satisfied. I said, “Lord, you and I both know I am worthy only because of Your finished work on the Cross”. The siege lifted and I was able to enter into worship.

Later on, reflecting on the situation, I realized that God had allowed me to experience demonic forces at work. These forces use guilt, condemnation and comparison to hook into our soulish pride, selfish ambition and desire for approval.

As I continued to pray—asking the Lord for further revelation, I began to understand that this was an extreme attack of something that can happen much more subtly and therefore is even much more insidious. The goal of these mental attacks is to move us from being led by the Spirit to being driven to try and win approval, acceptance and appease and satisfy this god substitute.

This is not like our God. Yes, He does expect obedience and conformity to His Spirit. He does expect us to submit to His Lordship, but this all happens in the context of being led by His Spirit.

The definition of the word “driven” has a compulsive or urgent quality. The Bible refers to God driving out His enemies, or to Jesus driving out demons. Being driven compromises our peace. In an effort to “feel” valued and worthy a driven person often adds more busyness to their schedule. Since those things may be “good” things, but not God things little or no fruit is born and the cycle intensifies. People who are driven instead of being led usually exhibit little or no joy in their activities. Driven people are driven back into the law, not into life.

So what does being led by the Spirit of God look like?

1. People who are led by the Spirit of God will be led into His Truth, which results in freedom.    
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. Psalm 25:5
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

2. The Spirit leads us besides still waters where our soul is restored.
He leads me beside still waters;  he restores my soul. Psalm 23: 2,3

3. The Spirit lead us in the paths which will glorify the Lord and cause us to walk uprightly and righteously.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

4. The Spirit does not lead us into temptation.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Psalm 31:3
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one Matthew 6:13
4. We are led by His Hand no matter where we may be.
If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will  lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. Psalm 139:10

5. His Spirit leads us in safety and confidence.
But God led his people out like sheep, and he guided them like a flock through the desert. He led them to safety so they had nothing to fear, Psalm 78:53
Some people had wandered in the desert lands. They found no city in which to live.
They were hungry and thirsty, and they were discouraged. In their misery they cried out to the LORD, and he saved them from their troubles. He led them on a straight road
to a city where they could live. Psalm 107:4-7

6. His Spirit will lead us to change our ways when they are not His ways.
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4

7. His Spirit will lead us to pick up our cross daily.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23

We must prepare our mind for action against this other counterfeit spirit who would seek to drive us to do God’s will by our own strength and for impure or mixed motives. God’s Spirit has a plan and purpose for each of us in helping establish His Kingdom. He desires to use us in such a way that He is glorified. It is not that we will not be “busy about our Father’s business”, it is that His Spirit is operating within us, allowing us to rest in our busyness, to trust in His time table and to enjoy the journey along the way.

One last thought. Unfortunately, driven people, especially leaders, have a tendency to drive others. It is most essential that we are honest with ourselves as well as Him if we have been influenced by this driving spirit.

Father, I ask that you impart upon the readers the ability, by your grace and Spirit to help them discern the difference between being led and being driven. Lead them besides the still waters, restore their soul so they can begin again following your leadership to accomplish your plan and purpose. This is a needed lesson. Please help us be aware when the enemy is lying to us about these things, that we may turn a deaf ear to Him, and listen only to your voice. We trust you, my Father.