What does it mean to “Walk in the Spirit”?
Many people have a misconception of what it means to walk in the Spirit. They think it is about following rules and regulations, but this is not true. It is about having a close relationship with Jesus Christ and being obedient to him.
The Bible tells us that when we walk in the Spirit, we are led by God’s Spirit and not by our desires. His guidance can direct us because the Holy Spirit lives within us. When we let go of our desires and put our trust in Jesus Christ, we can be guided by his will for our life.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16
In simple words, to walk in the Spirit means to be led by the Holy Spirit. It lets the Holy Spirit guide you and show you what is right and wrong. The Bible says that we have a spirit in us, making us alive. When we let him lead us, he will show us things that are not good for us and good for us.
The Holy Spirit is the third person in the Trinity. It is omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal. Holy Spirit does not have a body because it is not a created being. And lives within us and guides us to do what’s right.
We are called to be holy as God is holy. That means we are called to be perfect in our thoughts, words, deeds, and attitudes. We are called to live without sinning because Jesus died for our sins on the cross.
Read more: What does an Upside-down or Inverted cross mean?
How Do We Walk in the Spirit and Control the Flesh?
The Bible is clear that we are to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
You must first understand that your flesh will always be there trying to tempt us into sin. But, when we walk in the Spirit, our flesh will be under control and will not lead us astray.
To walk in the Spirit means to walk according to God’s will. This is done by casting off anything that hinders us from following him. It also means to live by his word and not our desires. When we walk in the Spirit, we can live a pleasing life to God and not ourselves.
If you are thinking about how you can walk in the Spirit, you can start by reading scripture, praying, and studying what it means to be Christian. You should also try your best not to do sinful things or give in to temptation as much as possible. Also, you should never judge others because this is something Jesus told us not to do as well.
The Holy Spirit is the power and presence of God in our lives. This Holy Spirit will only help you walk in the Spirit and control the flesh.
When you walk in Spirit, you do not let your thoughts and desires control us. You let God’s thoughts and desires control us. You make sure that you are not walking with your understanding but with the knowledge of God.
The Advantage of Walking in the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit means living according to the Holy Spirit. This way of life characterized by humility, love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control.
There are many benefits to walking in the Spirit. Some of the advantages have described for you below:
- Holy Spirit will help you grow spiritually and emotionally.
- It will help you be more fulfilled in life and more successful.
- Holy Spirit can help you be more creative, make better decisions, and be more productive.
- Guides us to move on the journey of faith. It will help you with your spiritual growth and enable you to do things that you might not do on your own.
Steps to Walking in the Spiritual Walk
Step 1: Walk in the Spirit by Walk Away from Sin
“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:13
The first step is to recognize sin for what it is. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means that we all tend to do wrong things. Sin can be anything from lying, stealing, or killing a person.
Then your next step is to realize the battle against sin. The Bible says, “The desires of the sinful nature are hostile against God.” You cannot fight this battle on your own because you are going up against something more significant than you – your sinful nature.
Step 2: Walk in the Spirit by Sowing to the Spirit
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” – Galatians 6:8
The second step would be to sow the spirit. The Bible speaks of the Spirit of Man and the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is holy, and the Spirit of man is also holy.
The Holy Spirit is a person with a personality, intellect, emotions, and will. He has been given to us by our heavenly Father to guide us in all aspects of life.
He lives in every Christian from the moment they are born again and indwells them with his power and love.
Step 3: Walk in the Spirit by Presenting your Body
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
The third step to know for walking in the spirit is to know how to present your body. It is important to remember that the Bible says that we are not spiritual beings but also physical beings. We need to take care of our bodies because they are our temples.
Step 4: Walk in the Spirit by Praying in the Spirit Daily
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” – Romans 8:26-27
The fourth step is to pray and ask God for guidance. This is because one can’t walk a path without knowing where it leads or how it will end.
Praying in the Spirit daily is a commitment to walk in the Spirit. It is not praying for requests but also praying for other believers going through difficult times. It is also praying for our enemies to be saved and come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Daily Effective Prayer Techniques
Step 5: Walk in the Spirit by Follow His Voice
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” – John 10:4
The fifth step is to be willing and open-minded about everything that God has planned for you, no matter what it may be. If one does not have an open mind, they might miss out on something extraordinary that God has planned for them. Always follow his voice, and you will be in the right direction.
Step 6: Walk in the Spirit by Dwell in God’s Word
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16
The second last step for walking in the spirit is to have an adequate understanding of dwelling in God’s word. The Bible says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”
For us as believers in Jesus Christ to walk in the Spirit, we must first dwell in God’s Word. Only when you read and study his word can you be filled with his Holy Spirit. You should also pray for wisdom from him so that you can understand his words better and live a life that is pleasing to him.
Step 7: Walk in the Spirit by Praise God and Thanksgiving
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6
The last and the seventh step is to praise the all-mighty god and offer him gratitude. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead. He is the one who helps us to walk in the Spirit.
Praise God and Thanksgiving are two words that are synonymous with each other. They are used to express gratitude, joy, and thankfulness for what we have been given. Never forget to offer your gratitude in the name of the Holy Spirit and God. By doing this, you are committing sin, which is not acceptable if you want to walk on the path led by God.
Prepare your Journey
The Bible says that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus is our only hope of salvation and eternal life. He offers us a new life by forgiving our sins and giving us his Holy Spirit so we can live as he lived. But we must prepare for this journey by getting rid of anything that might hinder our progress on this path.
Many people are not living their lives in alignment with the Spirit. They are living in fear, anger, and desperation. These negative emotions can lead to depression, addiction, and even suicide.
The Bible says that the Spirit of God is all around us. The Holy Spirit is always with us to guide us on our journey through life. When we live in the Spirit, we live in peace and joy with no worries or fears.
To walk in the Spirit, one must first know their journey. To do this, they must first make sure that they follow God’s word and do what he has asked of them. They must also be able to understand the Bible and the Holy Spirit.
“If we live by the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit”. – Galatians 5:25
This preparation can take a lot of time and effort, but it is worth it in the end.
