Finding God's Path: The Story of Lydia and the Holy Spirit's Guidance
- Pastor Denise Kasischke
- Jul 23
- 4 min read

How Does God Work in People's Hearts Before They Know Him?
Even before we have the language to describe God, He is already at work in our hearts. This truth was beautifully illustrated by a story of a three-year-old girl who had never been exposed to religion. When her father explained that some people believe a great power created everything, she jumped up with joy exclaiming, "I knew it! It is Him! It is Him!"
This story reveals something profound: God moves and speaks in people's hearts even before they have the knowledge or language to call Him by name. Children have a natural sense of God's presence, and it's the role of adults to help them develop the language of faith to express their experiences with God.
But this isn't just true for children. God's Spirit works in people of all ages, warming their hearts toward Him before they even understand what's stirring within them.
How Does the Holy Spirit Guide Our Paths?
In Acts 16, we see a powerful example of the Holy Spirit's guidance through Paul's journey to meet Lydia. The passage begins with Paul and his companions being redirected by the Spirit:
"Having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia... they attempted to go to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them" (Acts 16:6-7).
Instead, Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia pleading, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Paul immediately responded to this divine guidance, recognizing it as God's call to proclaim the good news in a new region.
This shows us that the Holy Spirit often works like a divine traffic director - saying "no" to some paths while pointing us toward others. Paul's willingness to listen and follow these promptings led him to exactly where God wanted him to be.
Who Was Lydia and Why Is Her Story Important?
When Paul arrived in Philippi (a leading city in Macedonia and a Roman colony), he sought out a place of prayer by the river, where he found a group of women gathered to worship. Among them was Lydia, described as "a worshipper of God" and "a dealer in purple cloth" from the city of Thyatira (Acts 16:14).
Though Lydia's story spans only a few verses, it reveals several important insights:
She was likely not Jewish but was drawn to worship the God of the Bible
She was a businesswomen dealing in expensive purple cloth (made from thousands of sea snails)
Most importantly, "the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul"
Lydia was already seeking God before Paul arrived. The Holy Spirit had been working in her heart, preparing her to receive the message of Jesus Christ. When she heard Paul's teaching, it was like finding the missing piece she had been searching for.
How Does God Transform Communities Through Individuals?
Lydia's response to the gospel was immediate and comprehensive. She and her entire household were baptized, and she insisted that Paul and his companions stay at her home: "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at home" (Acts 16:15).
The text says she "prevailed upon them" - suggesting her invitation was impossible to refuse!
Her conversion led to:
The transformation of her entire household
The generous sharing of her resources
Her home becoming the hub of the new church in Philippi
Later in Acts 16:40, after Paul and Silas were released from prison, "they went to Lydia's home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed." By this point, Lydia's home had become the gathering place for the new believers - the first church in Europe.
What Does Lydia's Story Teach Us About Sharing Our Faith?
Lydia's story reveals a crucial truth about evangelism: we are not the front person in sharing the gospel. The Holy Spirit goes ahead of us, preparing hearts to receive the message of Jesus.
This takes tremendous pressure off our shoulders. We don't need to "convert" anyone - that's God's work. Our role is to be sensitive to the Spirit's leading and to share the story of Jesus with those whose hearts God has already been preparing.
Think of it like salt in soup. Jesus called us to be "the salt of the earth." Salt doesn't create flacor - it enhances what's already there. Too little salt, and the soup lacks flavor; too much salt, and it becomes inedible. Our witness should enhance and bring to light what the Spirit has already begun working in someone's heart.
How Can We Recognize Where God Is Already Working?
Just as Paul followed the Spirit's guidance to find Lydia, we too can learn to recognize where God is already at work:
Pay attention to those who seem spiritually curious or hungry
Look for "divine appointments" - unexpected opportunities to share your faith
Be sensitive to the Spirit's promptings about where to go and who to speak with
Remember that God often works in unexpected places and through unexpected people
Like the international student from Bulgaria who found herself at a Christian college with questions about the Bible, there are people all around us whom God has been preparing to hear the good news.
Life Application
The story of Lydia challenges us to recognize that God is already at work in the hearts of people around us. This week consider these questions:
Who might be the "Lydias" in your life - people whose hearts God has been preparing?
How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance about where to go and who to speak with?
In what ways might you be trying to force conversation about faith rather than enhancing what God is already doing?
Are you willing to follow the Spirit's leading, even when it takes you in unexpected directions?
This week, commit to following the Spirit's guidance. Don't worry about having to do itt all yourself - God has gone before you. Your role is simply to follow and tell the story of Jesus to those whose hearts He has already been preparing. There are stil many "Lydias" out there today, waiting to hear the good news and exclaim with joy, "It is Him! It is Him!"
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