How do I know that I’m being controlled by the Holy Spirit? Sometimes (OK, seems like a lot of the time) I sin in word and deed, but I don’t like it nor do I go out of my way to do it or anything but, it seems like the sin nature has more control than I’d like and I don’t feel much like a new creation. What can one do?
It helps to remember that the Holy Spirit is a counselor who can help us break the control the sin nature has over us. But we can’t give control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, we can only choose to follow His advice.
And though God sees us as a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), that’s because He’s outside of time and has chosen to see us as we will be after we’ve been perfected. Until the Resurrection /Rapture we’re still stuck in time with our sin nature.
The fact that you see yourself as a sinner is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Confess your sins and be restored to righteousness (1 John 1:9), and remember that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).