1 Peter 1:21 - "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
Tugboats. What comes to mind? The Saturday Evening Post comical magazine stories about Tugboat Annie? Nothing in particular? Get this... these little tugboats move huge vessels that either should not move themselves, such as ships in a crowded harbor or a narrow canal, or those that cannot move by themselves, such as barges, disabled ships, log rafts, or oil platforms. Tugboats are powerful for their size and strongly built, and some serve as icebreakers or salvage boats. In a "tug assist" operation, a tugboat is attached by a line to the back of a ship, and acts as a brake to slow the larger ship down, or to gently push the ship. Attached to the front of the ship, the tugboat can also pull the ship in a desired direction.
I thought about the tugboat in relation to 1 Peter 1:21. The Holy Spirit is that still small voice on the inside of us to either gently push, pull or stop us as we travel along God's assigned path for our life. He will "tug" and "nudge" us gently, but He won't make us do anything that's not in line with His (yes, He is a person) purpose for us. When we receive that tug, I've heard that we have about 10 seconds to either obey or reject that tug before it fades. When you hear "Call that person", or "Go to that address", or "Don't say it", or "Don't do it", or the real delicate one, "Give!", you need to quickly obey.
If we would learn how to obey that "tug", we would be lead in the right direction every time. We need to humbly wait on the Holy Spirit for direction and listen for His voice, impression or nudge. So many are waiting for an apparition, an appearance of Jesus, or a fleece ("Lord, if I see three giraffes, I'll do this"). The "tugboat" will take you to a safe harbor without incident, navigate you through tight spaces, or break through obstacles in your path. It will push you a little here, and put the brakes on a little there. It's invaluable, it's necessary! Allow the Holy Spirit a "tug assist" in your situation today!