All Christians have been given an amazing gift by God who wants so deeply for us to know Him and His love for us. Jesus told us that the Father would give us another advocate to help us and be with us forever – the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is our guide in this life; He is our teacher who is gently guiding us into all the truth (John 16:13). God gave us the Holy Spirit in order to ensure that we have proper guidance and help on our walk in life. We must then keep in step with the Spirit in order to receive God’s best for us.
The apostle Paul gives us direction on how to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5:16-17 Paul writes, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Our flesh wants us to give in to every temptation thrown at us by making us feel like we need it or deserve it. In our culture it is common for us to let loose on the weekends because we feel we deserve it (or need it) after a long and hard work week. In our minds we justify indulging ourselves, and as a result we give in to our fleshly desires. At the time, indulging our fleshly desires might feel good, but inevitably it does not leave us feeling refreshed, full of joy, or at peace. Walking in the flesh will never leave us feeling our best, because it is not God’s best for us.
If we are to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit, then we need to know how to be led by the Spirit. When we are walking in the Spirit we will produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We may feel happy while we indulge our flesh, but happiness is an emotional state that comes and goes. The joy and peace that come from walking in the Spirit are everlasting and will remain with us as long as we keep in step with the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit means following His provided direction and learning to discern His voice over our own. As you spend more time getting to know God and the leadership He provides through the Holy Spirit, your desires will change and former temptations will become less enticing. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all the truth, but to be guided in the truth we first have to recognize the truth. This truth can only be found in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Truth in Action – Galatians 5:19 gives us a list of the acts of the flesh. These include: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, drunkenness, and the like. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us a list of the fruits of the Spirit. These include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Take a look at your day and compare your actions with the lists above to determine if you are walking more in your flesh or more in the Spirit. You need to walk in the Spirit all of the time to receive God’s best for your life. Don’t miss out on God’s best by walking in the Spirit five days a week and then indulge your flesh the other two. Try to be consistent in your walk.
Meditate on Scripture: Romans 8:14 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Further Study – Read Galatians 5:13-25 on keeping in step with the Spirit. Apply this Word to your everyday life.