In Galatians 5:16,25 (NIV) we read, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh….Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
What does the apostle Paul mean by, “walk by the Spirit…keep in step with the Spirit”? How do we know if we are doing that?
Several things came to mind.
First, to even be ready to keep in step with the Spirit, and perhaps the way he first intends to help us walk with him is to make sure our heart is peaceful and at rest. The reason that is so important is that we can hardly receive the information it takes to walk by the Spirit if our hearts are stormy and unsettled. So we must cast all our cares on God and repeatedly thank him that he will resolve our concern. Then, our hearts are ready to listen and be guided.
Second, we pay attention. Our very desire to be guided by God will bring on his guidance so, while moving through the day from one thing to another, thoughts will come that, in effect, call us to do this or do that, pray or say this or that. When such a thought comes, we must act on it as soon as we can.
When there’s no clear directive calling us into action, then keeping in step with the Spirit is as simple as sticking with our routines and planned activities.
It is important, however, to remember that Jesus described the Holy Spirit and his influence in terms of the wind, which is notoriously unpredictable. Consequently, in walking by the Spirit we must stay alert and ready to respond quickly to a sudden notion that we need to do this instead of that right now.
And we also need to know that all our worship, praise, thanksgiving, devotional reading, study, and prayers, is bearing fruit to the extent that we are, in fact, keeping in step with the Spirit. How so? Because only in walking by the Spirit is the influence of the flesh rendered null and void.
