Frank Sinatra made famous song "I Did It My Way". It has become so famous that sometimes one even hears it played at funerals - even Christian funerals. It is as though people are so loose in their knowledge about what God wants of us that they see having "done it" their own way as a real testament to quality of their lives.But principle on which this song is founded is anathema to Christian trying to follow Christ. It is last thing we should want as a summary of our lives - that we did everything in our own way!
We are called to live as Jesus lived. One crucial aspect of his life was that it was led by Holy Spirit. This was at least from start of his public ministry when, after his baptism in Jordan, Luke 4. 1 tells us that he was driven into desert by Spirit.
There are other scriptures which one could quote also if space allowed. But lesson is that, to live as Jesus lived, we also need to be led by Spirit. Easy to say. But how do we do it?
First Essential The first essential is to know that this is really what God requires of us. We all "know" it in an academic way. We know it as a principle. But what we also need to have is conviction of it!
If we do not have that already, there is only one way to get it: by prayer. Preferably by prayer based on scriptures.
meditate on selected, relevant passages, especially from New Testament, and preferably from gospels. (This is discussed in detail by a book on our site: "The keys to Christian Meditation"). For example, read gospels carefully explicitly looking for passages which have especial reference to Jesus being led by Spirit. You need to find them. They are not always overt, so look with care and take your time.
Meditate on these passages allowing Holy Spirit to lead you. Search for realisation that we are to imitate example set for us by Jesus.
The conviction may come in various ways: all at once, or as a gradual process of a growing conviction which no one can give you details for in advance.
Second Essential; Once we really know that this is really what God wants of us, second essential is to integrate it into our lives. Easy to say. But how do we start?
We start with determination not to take decisions "off our own bat", not to live as we want but as God wants. We want to end up saying "I did it his way", not "I did it my way".
You can begin in either of two ways. Start with really important decisions and work down to daily ones; or start with small ones and work up to big ones. This is a matter of personal choice - but also of opportunity