Galatians 5:25
“If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.”
Living by the Spirit is to have a life that demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control". We grow in this lifestyle. We will have some contrary emotions. That's not wrong. What we do with them determines if we are a christian.
The verse prior to this says we are to crucify the flesh with its passions. We ask the Lord for wisdom and assistance. He helps us to cast off selfishness and to love. That's living by the Spirit.
Following the Spirit is slightly different. The Lord's prayer contains it, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven", (Matthew 6:10). The Lord has different plans for us all. Our task is to follow that plan.
These plans aren't given to us by a blueprint ahead of time. So how do we discover it. Proverbs 3:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We get two things from this verse. He gives us new desires. Once we're born again, we get a new heart that seeks after the things of God.
The second fact from Proverbs is that God fills those desires. As we are in His Word and walk in His ways, those godly desires are filled. We seek to love others, for differences to be worked out, for healing, and so on. We also have healthy hobbies and habits that He fills.
These good desires involve careers, goals, relationships and so on. They could involve inventions and things that don't appear spiritual, but God is involved in them. Knowing that God sustains all life and keeps creation going. Much doesn't appear spiritual, but God is involved.
Acts 16:6-10 gives us an example of how this being led by the Spirit occurs. 'They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, after being forbiddenby the Holy Spirit to speak the word in [c]Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; and passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.' They attempted to go one way, then another, both of which the Lord blocked their paths. Finally Paul gets a vision which they see as God's guidance.
The Lord will guide us also. Visions are rare, but He will do so. Much is done by the desires of the heart. There may be obstructions of many kinds. This doesn't mean it's from God. We check with our gut. Depending on what I sense I may stop or find a detour. Sometimes I get a hunch. I'll inquire about that. Just like was said, depending on what I sense, I may stop or find a detour.
The Lord is patient with us. Revelation 3:20 says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." This speaks of all of us and how we are to let Christ in to our lives. I believe once we let Christ into the entry way of our lives, He will do similar knocking on different rooms. We may be stubborn on some and keep Him knocking for some time. He may adjust circumstances to aide us in openness. Healing happens when we finally get those doors open.
Thank You Lord that Your Spirit leads and we are to follow. Thank You for Your patience and Your prodding.