Hebrew 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
THREE-WAY TEST OF INWARD WITNESS(A)
Another issue of concern is how to be sure if the inward witness is of God. As an aside, in your quest for learning how to discern the leading of the Spirit, you will likely make mistakes. I must say that you should not be afraid of making mistakes. A baby that is learning to walk would fall but with time, he/she would gain mastery. Back to the issue of inward witness, there are three ways to test if your inward witness is of God. The first is the word test. God cannot break his word. His word is settled in heaven forever( Psalm119:89). God won't lead you outside his word.
If you claim to have an inward witness about a thing or situation, don't be in haste to act until you ascertain that it is within the ambit of scriptural revelation and principles. For example, a man said God told him he would marry another wife while the first is alive. That's anti-bible. You don't need to look for confirmation elsewhere because that is plainly revealed. There are certain leadings that are not plainly revealed in the word of God. However, in such cases, use the principles of the word of God to vet such inward witness. For example, you may claim to have received a leading to start ministry after you saw how a minister lives large and has cash flowing for him. Being in ministry is good and legitimate but the motive behind your going into ministry is against the principles of the bible. In that case, God is not leading but greed.
You can't be lusting after a sister and conclude God is leading is you through inward witness. That way, you will miss it. Let me use myself as an example. In my final year, I was considering a sister in my fellowship. She was tall, beautiful, fair-skinned and she has a good body built. To be candid, i lusted after her body. I don't need to go into details but you know some physical features men look at. I was already considering her for a relationship not until the Holy Spirit asked me: "why do you want to marry sister XXX"? I couldn't answer because I knew God caught me red-handed. Even though the name of whom to marry is not in the bible but the word of God judged my motive and it found LUST in me. Subject every leading to the word and be sure it aligns with the principles of the scriptures. The word of God is a discerner of thoughts and intents.
CONFESSION: I shall not be in haste in the name of Jesus. I receive the grace to make the word of God my guide always in Jesus name.