Ways to Walk with the Spirit

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash.

I used to take Sunday evening walks along the boardwalk with friends. We enjoyed the fellowship to reflect on the morning’s sermon and edify each other for the week ahead. Yet, I had to be careful because I usually left everyone in the dust. While not athletically inclined, one thing I do is walk fast. I’d talk to someone without realizing I was 20 feet ahead. My friend Patty would laugh at how speedily I moved.
 
When we walk with the Holy Spirit, we need to go at His pace. Not run ahead, feeling good about ourselves or lagging behind feeling like we can’t catch up. Walking with the Spirit is the opposite of walking in the flesh. We should be led by the ways of the Lord instead of the ways of the world.
 
We humans, we tend to lean towards our sinful selves. Even when we do the right thing, we can’t on our own strength. We just aren’t that tough. Instead of focusing on having more patience or loving the unlovable, when we align ourselves with the Holy Spirit, His attributes shine through our lives in the form of the fruit of the Spirit.
 
Here are some of the ways we can walk with the Holy Spirit which will lead to better displaying His characteristics in our lives:
 

1. Speak Truth Aloud

 
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)
 
During my morning commute, I repeat the armor of God aloud, followed by saying who I am in Christ and then names and attributes of God. After six months of this effort, I’m seeing a huge payout in my life. Whereas previously, I’d had a strong left-brained head knowledge of God’s goodness and love towards me, those truths have now sunk deep into my heart. Speaking words of life has crystallized God’s faithfulness in ways that reading the words silently didn’t create. We tell our minds truth instead of speaking death into our circumstances and plant seeds of hope.
 

1. Sing Praise Music

“I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” – Psalm 9:2 NKJV
One day in the car, I felt overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. Crying, I called aloud to God, letting Him know I couldn’t bear the weight. I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to sing what I call the Jesus medley. I sing three hymns together “He Keeps Me Singing,” “There’s Just Something about That Name,” and “Oh, How I Love Jesus.” These songs repeat the name of Jesus many times and focus on His faithfulness. By the end of those songs, my tears stopped, my heart rate slowed, and I felt hope that God would carry my load.
 
When we worship as we go, the melodies change the atmosphere around us and usher in the presence of God. The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. Often worship songs focus on the attributes of God. Singing about all the good things He has done postures our hearts to expect favorable outcomes instead of fear the worst.
 

1. Meditate on God’s Word

 
“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.” –       Psalm 1:2 NKJV
 
Sometimes, we can read the Bible without taking in its richer meanings. We need deeper dives for the truths to transform our hearts and minds. Just dipping a tea bag in hot water produces tan water, not strong tea. When I’ve really contemplated a verse to dig out its truths, I’ve seen the benefits of peace and joy (fruit of the Spirit) in my life. We need God’s Word to become part of the fabric of our being and change us from the inside out. The truths of the Bible need to inhabit our thoughts day and night so that our minds are transformed which in turn alters our actions.
 

1. Memorize Scripture

 
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11 NKJV
 
Some people have easier times learning Bible verses than others. When we put in the effort, the payoff is a heart inclined towards obedience instead of rebellion. If we want to yield the fruit of the Spirit, we have to seed our souls with the truths of God’s Word. Then the Holy Spirit has a larger arsenal of truth to pull from when temptation strikes.
 
While these may seem familiar ways to connect with God, how often do we do them? With the busy demands of life, it’s easy to get distracted. May we walk with the Spirit so He can transform us from the inside out and we will walk in the ways of the Lord and our lives will yield a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit.
 

• Which method of walking in the Spirit resonates most with you? Why?
• Which method do you want to increase in your life with week so you more closely align with the Spirit?