"The entrance of thy words giveth light (Psalm 119:130)."
How to Walk in the Spirit
Let's start with some Scriptures.
First, Galatians 5:16-23. I've divided the Scripture into three parts.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law."
"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
{Galatians 5:16-23 NASB}
Peace is, in my mind, the key element to measure your progress. As you become more proficient in Walking in the Spirit, you will have more and more peace, more and more often.
You will also experience, in your life, more and more of the other desirable qualities mentioned in the Scripture—in greater measure and with greater frequency.
Walking in the Spirit is a learning process that takes place over time.
It is not a matter of you getting more of the Spirit. It is a matter of the Spirit getting more of you.
Here's how to Walk in the Spirit.
First: Start with the basics:
- Get saved.
- Read the Bible every day.
- Pray every day.
- Trust and obey.
- Forgive others.
For more information on the basics of Christianity, I refer you to my article entitled A Quick Start Guide.
Second: Recognize that Walking in the Spirit requires a choice to be obedient. Obedience is necessary for blessings while disobedience leads to curses on your life (Deuteronomy 28). Including a lack of peace.
Make a good-faith effort to be obedient in all areas of your life.
And, when you slip up, confess your sin to God and try again to be obedient.
Third: "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." {James 1:22 NKJV}
Reading and studying the Word is not enough—you have to actually do what it says.
It is very easy to deceive yourself.
Fourth: "Do not quench the Spirit" {1 Thessalonians 5:19 NKJV}
Be alert for impressions from the Holy Spirit. Walking in the Spirit requires being sensitive and obedient to prompting of the Holy Spirit.
When God makes it clear he wants you to do something, do it. Right away. When God says 'no' don't. When things are unclear, wait.
Seeking out wise counsel, when needed, is highly recommended.
Fifth: Allow God to be the Lord of your life.
You've probably seen bumper stickers which say: "If God is your co-pilot, switch seats." This is what they are talking about.
The following is an excerpt from a book published by well-known Pastor Tim LaHaye.
"Carnal Christians run their own lives and make their own decisions, whereas Christ-controlled Christians turn their lives over to Jesus Christ by prayerfully asking, 'Lord Jesus, how do you want me to handle this situation?' 'Do you want me to take this job opportunity?' 'How do you want me to respond to my wife, or husband, or children, or boss, or neighbors?' . . .
The self-controlled life is miserable. The Christ-controlled life is dynamic! One propagates disarray and confusion, inducing self to stagger from crisis to crisis. The Christ-controlled life guarantees peace and confidence, thus avoiding many crises (because this life is supernaturally directed), yet confidently facing those inescapable crises that do come. This believer is confident that his director will abundantly supply every need."1
Sixth: Don't entertain wicked thoughts and don't engage in wicked behaviors. These result in anxiety (Proverbs 23:7, 28:1, Isaiah 48:22). They also create an impediment to your prayers being answered (Psalm 66:18).
"Do good, O Lord, to those who are good And to those who are upright in their hearts (Psalm 125:4 NASB)."
"He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend." {Proverbs 22:11NKJV}
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14 NASB)."
Things like jealousy, envy, malice, pornography and evil desires can easily sabotage your Christian life. They make it easy for Christians to be defeated.
The more you starve those fleshly desires, the more the fruit of the Spirit can grow in your life.
Seventh: "Be holy, for I am holy." {1 Peter 1:16 NKJV}
Try to avoid masturbation. And, of course, stay away from pornography.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." {Proverbs 4:23 NIV}
Eighth: Guard your thinking and your self-talk.
". . . whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right . . . think about these things." {Philippians 4:8 NASB}
" . . . the joy of the Lord is your strength." {Nehemiah 8:10 NIV}
Suggestions follow.
Keep your thoughts positive and constructive, rational and comforting. Correct negative thoughts.
Spend 10-15 minutes, every day, thinking about the good things in your life, what you can be thankful for. This will help you to develop the habit of thinking positive.
Ninth: "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." {Colossians 2:8 NKJV}
Don't spend a lot of time studying psychology or trying to apply it to your life. Anything that distracts you from the Bible, for very long, will be detrimental to your making progress.
Tenth: Take care of your health.
"He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered." {Proverbs 28:26 NKJV}
Suggestions:
- Get vaccinated.
- Get plenty of sleep
- Exercise daily.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Go to the dentist at least once every year.
- Get medical attention when needed.
- Stay away from quack remedies.
Eleventh: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit . . ." {Ephesians 5:18 NIV}
"As strong drink stimulates the physical forces and men are prone to turn to it for help over the difficult places, so the child of God, facing an impossible responsibility of a heavenly walk and service, is directed to the Spirit as the source of all sufficiency."
{He That Is Spiritual by Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952)}
You can't Walk in the Spirit while you are using mind-altering substances. This includes psychotropic drugs. Walking in the Spirit is a learning process that requires that you be able to experience both pleasant and unpleasant emotions unimpeded. It requires that your mind be alert and that you have the ability to be joyful.
Twelfth: Walking in the Spirit is not the direct result of prayer.
"Spirituality is not gained in answer to prevailing prayer; for there is little Scripture to warrant the believer to be praying for the filling of the Spirit. It is the normal work of the Spirit to fill the one who is rightly adjusted to God. The Christian will always be filled while he is making the work of the Spirit possible in his life."
{He That Is Spiritual by Lewis Sperry Chafer (1871-1952)}
Finally: I'd like to end with some summarizing Scriptures that I think you'll find helpful.
"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6 NIV)."
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8 NIV)."
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)."
"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. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." {Romans 12:1-2 NIV}
1 How to Win Over Depression by Tim LaHaye. Pages 209-210.
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