Walking in the spirit is an important notion for every Christian to understand. But what does it mean to walk in the spirit?
In this article, I’ll examine what the Bible says about walking in the spirit, including what it means, examples from Scripture, and practical steps to start living this out today.
Why Walking in the Spirit Matters
As a Christian, God has called you to live a life that pleases Him and that aligns with His will. But doing this in your power is impossible – you need the empowerment and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Learning to walk in the Spirit is key to experiencing the abundant life that God intends for each of us.
When you walk in the Spirit,
- You’ll experience freedom from sin.
- Bear godly fruit in your life.
- Live out God’s will for your life.
There’s no greater purpose you can have than this!
What Does “Walk in the Spirit” Mean?
To “walk” in the Bible frequently refers to a way of living. Therefore, to “walk in the Spirit” means to live your day-to-day life guided by the Holy Spirit and His wisdom.
You should not be guided by your fleshly desires or your human wisdom.
Some key aspects of walking in the Spirit include:
- Being led by the Spirit and His guidance in every decision and situation (Romans 8:14).
- Saying no to the desires of the flesh which are contrary to God’s will.
- Allowing the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, etc.—to grow in your life.
- Relying on the Holy Spirit’s power to overcome sin and walk in holiness.
The opposite—walking in the flesh—is being controlled by your sinful human nature and pursuing worldly desires that are against God’s will.
Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) states,
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
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Walking in the Spirit in Galatians 5
One of the most important passages about walking in the Spirit is Galatians 5:16-25 (KJV).
In verse 16, Paul tells the Galatian Christians that if they “walk in the Spirit they would not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Fulfilling the lust of the flesh refers to gratifying sinful human desires. When you walk in the Spirit, you will experience victory over sinful desires that wage war against your soul (1 Peter 2:11 NIV).
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
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Paul goes on to contrast the “works of the flesh”—sinful pursuits like sexual immorality and drunkenness—with the “fruit of the Spirit”—like love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5:19-23).
If you choose to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (v. 24), you’ll bear good fruit rather than the bad fruit produced when you walk in the flesh.
Verse 25 sums it up powerfully:
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
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Everything in the Christian life starts with relying on the Holy Spirit’s power within you rather than trying to live the Christian life in your strength.
10 Examples of Walking in the Spirit
To understand this concept further, let’s look at 10 examples of what it means to practically walk in the Spirit:
- Praying for the Holy Spirit’s help to say no to sin.
Avoid entering into temptation by asking the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to make wise choices. - Trusting the Spirit to give you the right words when sharing your faith.
Don’t rely on your wisdom instead depend on the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). - Choosing to respond to situations with the fruit of the Spirit.
Avoid anger or anxiety. Ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate His fruits of peace, patience, and gentleness in you. - Reading God’s Word and allowing it to guide your thoughts and actions.
Meditate on Scripture to align your mind to the Holy Spirit’s leading. - Giving financially or serving sacrificially as the Spirit leads.
Listen for the Holy Spirit’s nudge to generously meet the needs of others. - Dying to selfish desires that compete with God’s will.
When your flesh wants to indulge in something that does not glorify God reject that urge and follow the Holy Spirit’s prompting instead. - Worshipping God wholeheartedly with thanksgiving and joy.
Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh with passion for God’s presence. - Going wherever the Spirit calls you to share the gospel.
Get out of your comfort zone and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to witness boldly about Christ. - Using your spiritual gifts to serve in the church.
Use the gifts of the Holy Spirit to build up other believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). - Allowing the Spirit to produce His holiness in you.
As you yield every area of your life to the Spirit’s control, He will sanctify you and make you more like Christ.
5 Practical Steps for Walking in the Spirit
How can you walk in the Spirit more consistently every day? Here are some practical tips:
- Pray to be filled with the Spirit. Every day you should ask the Lord to fill you afresh with His Spirit and empower you to follow His lead.
- Study and meditate on God’s Word. As you read the Bible every day, tune your heart to the Spirit’s voice to discern His will for your life.
- Practice minding the Spirit. Stay sensitive to the Spirit’s nudges and promptings throughout your day. His voice will become clearer the more you practice listening.
- Obey the Spirit’s leading. Practice obedience to strengthen your ability to follow the Spirit. If you quench or ignore His voice, it becomes harder to hear Him.
- Develop the fruit of the Spirit. As you abide in Christ, the Spirit will transform you from within and develop His character in you.
Key Takeaways on Walking in the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit is an essential part of the Christian life. Here are some key truths to remember about living the Spirit-filled life:
- It means saying no to fleshly desires and being guided by the Spirit in every choice you make.
- When you walk in the Spirit, you’ll bear godly fruit like patience, love, and peace in your life.
- Walking in the Spirit means depending fully on the Holy Spirit’s power and direction.
- If you want to overcome sin and experience freedom in Christ, learn to walk in the Spirit.
- Practically, it involves prayerfully seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and obeying as He leads you.
Do not live the Christian life in your power but learn to rely fully on the Holy Spirit’s work in you.
By learning to walk in the Spirit each day, you’ll experience the abundant life Jesus promised! (John 10:10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the difference between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh?
A. Walking in the flesh is being controlled by your sinful human nature and making choices to gratify fleshly desires that are contrary to God’s will.
Walking in the Spirit means being led by the Spirit’s wisdom in every decision and relying on His power to bear godly fruit and overcome sin.
Q. Is walking in the Spirit something I can do Myself or is it God’s work in Me?
A. Though you have to make the choice daily to walk in the Spirit the ability to do so ultimately comes from God’s Spirit at work within you.
It’s both your responsibility to walk in the Spirit and God’s work enabling you to do so.
Q. How do I know if I’m being led by my desires versus the Spirit’s leading?
A. Ask yourself if what you feel led to do aligns with God’s Word and character. Pray for discernment and examine your motives.
Are you seeking to glorify God? The Spirit’s voice will never contradict Scripture.
Q. What happens if a Christian ignores the Spirit’s leading and quenches Him?
A. You’ll become spiritually weaker and less sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice. Persistent disobedience can lead to spiritual deafness.
The solution is repentance and to ask God to fill you with His Spirit afresh.
Q. How can I be filled with and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit each day?
A. It starts with daily prayer asking God to fill you with His Spirit. Study Scripture to renew your mind.
Practice minding the Holy Spirit throughout your day. Learn to obey the Holy Spirit’s promptings right away and allow Him to produce His fruit in you.
Q. What is the meaning of “Spirit of God”?
A. The “Spirit of God” refers to the Holy Spirit, also known as the third person of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is the divine presence and power of God that dwells within every believer.
Q. How can I walk by the Spirit?
A. To walk by the Spirit means to live following the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit.
It involves surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s control, seeking His guidance through prayer, and studying the Word of God. Allow Him to transform your thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
Q. What does it mean to gratify the desires of the flesh?
A. To gratify the desires of the flesh is to fulfill the sinful desires and cravings of your human nature.
It refers to yielding to temptations and engaging in behaviors that go against God’s commands.
Q. What is the kingdom of God?
A. The kingdom of God refers to the reign and rule of God in the hearts of believers. It represents the spiritual realm where God’s will is done and His authority is recognized.
Q. What does it mean to live according to the Spirit?
A. To live according to the Spirit means to align your thoughts, actions, and desires with the guidance and principles of the Holy Spirit.
It involves allowing the Holy Spirit to shape your character and guide you in making decisions that are in line with God’s will.
Q. Who is Christ Jesus?
A. Christ Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
He was raised from the dead on the third day, offering salvation and eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.
