Walking In The Spirit

Let’s be honest: life is not always a walk in the park. If you’re anything like me, there may have been times when you found yourself sliding down the wall, doing the ugly cry. After I became a Christian, I assumed that life would become much easier. While Christianity offers peace, joy, and simplicity, the reality is that it’s far from easy. Being in the world but not of it is challenging, and there have been days when I didn’t think I could go on. However, by the power of the Holy Spirit, I’ve been able to press forward. Glory be to God, I’m still standing ten toes down!

Galatians 5:16 (KJV) states “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

The apostle Paul is encouraging believers to actively live in accordance with the Holy Spirit’s guidance and warns against succumbing to fleshly desires. 

For years, I turned to a bottle of wine whenever life got tough. Anytime I couldn't cope with stress, I relied on a "glass of wine" to get me through. If I'm being completely honest, that "glass" often turned into multiple glasses. What I initially used to feel better in the moment ended up making me feel ten times worse in the long run. The thoughts I was so eager to escape from attacked me with a vengeance after I indulged beyond my limit. Thankfully, that unhealthy habit is now a thing of the past, thanks to the Holy Spirit's conviction. He gently and lovingly revealed to me how I was using alcohol to fill a void that it was never meant to fill.

When we consider all that the world offers—status, money, fame, and entertainment—we come to a similar conclusion. As highlighted in 1 John 2:16 (NIV), "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." We often lust after these things seeking fulfillment, but the pleasure they provide is short-lived, leaving us in an endless cycle of wanting more. 

I don’t believe that enjoying a glass of wine occasionally or partaking in the pleasures of life (good clean fun) is sinful in itself. I believe God wants us to enjoy our lives. However, when we begin to lust after or overindulge in these things to fill a void only God can satisfy, it becomes problematic. Most of us seek fulfillment in everything but God, and this pattern has existed since the very beginning—after Eve partook of the forbidden fruit.

Satan is crafty; he tricks us into believing something is missing. He wants us to focus on what we lack so much that we forget to appreciate what God has already given us, driving us to chase after the wind. We pursue things that never truly satisfy us because they weren’t designed to do so.

THE FALL OF HUMANITY

Genesis 3:4-6 (KJV) states: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise; she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

In this passage, the serpent deceived Eve into believing that she could become like God, equal to Him in understanding. Unfortunately, her lustful and prideful nature led to her downfall, further distancing her from God. We can only become more like God by acting in obedience, for He alone is God and all-knowing. When we choose disobedience and attempt to govern ourselves, we move further away from Him.

So, how do we walk in the Spirit? The Holy Spirit has revealed to me that walking in the Spirit involves living a life surrendered to the Lord by doing the following:

1. Seeking Him Daily – Living in His presence.

2. Obedience – Following His commandments, as stated in John 14:15.

3. Faith – Believing coupled with action. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God.

4. Community – Being surrounded by fellow believers keeps us accountable.

By incorporating these practices into our daily lives, we can walk more closely with the Lord and experience the fullness of His presence and guidance.

Let’s Dive Deeper 

How often do you seek the Lord? Many believers only set aside time for God on Sundays, and that's the only time they enter His presence. Are you guilty of this? If so, there's no need to beat yourself up because you are not alone; I've been there, done that, and bought the t-shirt. The good news is you can decide right now to change this.

The Following Steps Helped Me

SEEK HIM DAILY  

Develop a daily Bible study routine. You may be thinking that you don’t have the time, energy, or desire to read, and once again, you are not alone—these are common struggles. In 2 Timothy 2:15, it says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We should be diligent, eager, and committed to knowing God’s word and handling it correctly.

Here are a few tips for you:

- Start small: Carve out 15 minutes a day to read or listen to the audio Bible. Sometimes we shy away from committing to something because we make it bigger than it is.

- Pray for a desire: Pray that God increases your desire to seek Him. Matthew 7:7 states, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

- Invite the Holy Spirit: When we try to do anything in our own strength, it becomes more challenging. The Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us, gives us wisdom, increases our desire to read, and shares revelations with us. When you feel discouraged, remember that you have a helper.

Pray: We are encouraged to pray without ceasing. I once thought prayer was a formal way to talk with God, but I’m learning that it doesn’t always have to be that way. Prayer is a conversation with God where you express your thoughts, needs, and feelings. Keep in mind that prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen for His response.

Worship: To be honest, I struggle with setting aside time for praise and worship. Moving forward, I plan to be more deliberate about spending time worshipping. I’m learning that worship can be expressed in many ways, so you’re probably already doing it without even realizing it. Anytime we express gratitude for our blessings, serve others, and strive to live holy lives, we are in a state of worship.

OBEDIENCE  

One day, I was on my way home after picking up groceries. I was exhausted from a long day’s work and eager to relax. I passed by a man standing alongside the road holding a sign asking for help. I instantly felt the urge to stop, but there were cars behind me, so I kept going. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me to turn around and go back. There was a message the Lord wanted me to share. I chose to be obedient even though I was eager to get home, and turning around felt inconvenient. That experience taught me a valuable lesson about what it means to walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit often requires us to crucify our flesh.

FAITH  

Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” We cannot truly walk in the Spirit without faith. It requires faith to believe in, trust, and surrender our lives to an invisible God. I’m still learning and praying for an increase in my faith because this is a real challenge for me. Even when my faith feels as small as a mustard seed, He continues to show up, often in ways that only He can get the glory.

COMMUNITY  

Shortly after I rededicated my life to the Lord, I started looking for a church. My desire was to find a biblically sound church where I could truly be discipled. I visited a church that I absolutely loved, but unfortunately, it was too large, and I felt like I would get lost in the crowd. I attended other churches that just weren’t the right fit for me. After praying about it, God led my family and I to a church that is perfect for all of us. We are still settling in and getting to know the other members, but so far, it’s been a great experience. We jumped right into a discipleship class only after a few visits because we knew this was where we needed to be. You might still be searching for a church to call home, but remember that community is more than just a building. You may need to connect with an online community or find a nearby meetup group of believers to fellowship with.

I’m still learning what it means to walk in the Spirit. Every day, I consciously decide to show up, and often I arrive confused, broken, and with an empty cup. It’s refreshing to know I don’t have to have it all figured out. God is sovereign, and His plans for us are good. So, I just need to surrender everything at His feet, and in return, He will give me peace.

MY PRAYER FOR US

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the person reading this. Your Word tells us that where two or more are gathered, You are in their midst. I ask that You help my sister and I walk in the Spirit. Grant us the strength to die to ourselves daily and rely on You to meet all our needs, in Jesus' name. Amen.