So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

            To walk means to place one foot in front of the other. If you stop doing this, you are no longer walking-you are standing still. Walking always implies movement, progress, and direction. To walk in the Spirit is challenging but inspiring as well. It’s so often to stop walking. In our human nature, we want to take a break, to rest, to relax and not focus so much.  But those are the times that the enemy sneaks in and tries to get our minds focused on ourselves, our desires, our plans.  It’s easy to take a break for our regular Bible study time with our Father. It’s easy to stop talking with Him in prayer and before we know it, we’re doing things on our own and doing them our way.  That’s when it’s easy for sin to get a foothold in our life.

            Having just celebrated Easter once again has been a good reminder that sin shall no longer rule or dominate us because Jesus defeated both sin and Satan at the cross. We have to, however, be intentional in allowing the Holy Spirit to live Christ’s life through ua. It is living by faith, living by trust, living in dependence upon God.

            If we look to our own resources, our own strength, or our own ability, as Peter did when he walked on the water, we will fail. You cannot live the Christian life by ourselves. The Holy Spirit must live in us and express Himself through us. Living for Christ is a day-by-day experience. It is a continuous dependence upon the Spirit of God. It is believing in His faithfulness.

            The Living Bible paraphrases Galatians 5:16 this way: I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.