Then, the other day I was playing a word game on my device and I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me and giving me insight regarding the next move. I had an aha-moment. The Lord was teaching me how to sense His leading by using this word game. If I become continually aware of His presence, He does not have to permit trials only, to teach me.
So often we are scurrying through life unaware of the Lord's presence that we miss His signals altogether. When I received the signal from the Holy Spirit, concerning the word I was looking for, all He showed me was the letter C. When I stopped to notice that letter, it was then that I saw the whole word... N-I-C-E. He didn't show me the whole word till I stopped to acknowledge His signal. It is the same in life, when we stop scurrying and acknowledge His signal, He can reveal more of the picture.
If I continue to exercise and hone that gentle tug from the Holy Spirit, eventually it will become second nature. If I keep my eyes and ears attuned to Him all the time, life's lessons don't always have to come in the form of a trial.
It is true that the testing of our faith builds endurance, but I no longer have to dread praying for maturity. We can't stay babes forever and we don't have to dread the journey to maturity either.
Hebrews 5:14 (NKJV) Solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.