The Apostle Paul wrote many things that both inspire and challenge me. One of those is in Galatians 5:25:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (NIV)

Right — keep in step with the invisible Spirit of God. The first time I read that I had two simultaneous reactions: “I want to do that!” and “How is that possible?” Here’s how I’ve worked that through for myself.

First, Paul writes this with the assumption that his audience already lives by the Spirit. So exactly what does that mean? Very simply what it says: that our lives are in the hands and care of the Holy Spirit.

As a born-again child of God, your life depends upon the activity of the Spirit and your interaction with Him. The Spirit is not just God’s gift to you, He is the absolutely necessity of your Christian life. You cannot know God, enjoy God, love God, or live a holy life that pleases God, without the Spirit.

Second, the fact that Paul encourages us to keep in step with the Spirit means we have a choice in the matter. We can have the Spirit and yet not walk in step with Him. Sometimes I wish it was automatic, but in that case, I would be God’s puppet, not a true and free child. My righteous behavior and love for God would be meaningless, because I did not choose it.

If you need an example of how it is possible to be in close relationship with someone, yet not walk in step with them, look to your own family relationships. Now you’re getting the idea.

Finally, Paul’s instruction means that you can keep in step with the Spirit! You have that option, capacity and capability, otherwise he would not have said so. This is your starting point. The same faith you have to believe in God, and in your salvation, should be extended to believe this.

If you are saved, Father God has sent the Spirit of Christ to you:

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:6-7 (NIV)

If the Spirit is in you, then you can know Him. Why? Because the result of your spiritual rebirth is that God gave you a new human spirit, no longer stained by sin.

First, your reborn human spirit is a suitable and holy place for Christ’s spirit to dwell with, and you are joined together, forever.

Jesus taught clearly that the Spirit can be perceived, recognized and understood by you. He didn’t say those precise words, but they are totally implied by Jesus’ statements (in John Chapters 14 through 16) that the Spirit would teach, counsel, guide, comfort and remind you of things. 

Beloved, the Spirit is someone you can listen to in your spirit. Someone you can walk with.  Someone who can teach you. It all begins with believing what the Father and Jesus have promised, and living like it is true.

That means, start paying attention. Pay attention to the stirrings within you that seem more wise, noble, and God-honoring than you normally would be. Pay attention when you’re reading your Bible and certain verses start nagging at you. Pay attention when your day takes unexpected turns that require choices. Those are moments to stop and acknowledge the Spirit’s presence and say, “Where are we going, dear Teacher?”

I know how daunting it can be to think of keeping in step with the Spirit, who seems so mysterious in His invisible person. But we tend make it harder than it is.

Jesus made walking with the Spirit sound very straight forward and simple when he characterized himself as a shepherd with his sheep (you and me):

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 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 10:3-4 (NIV)

I really like what minister and author Fuchsia Pickett writes about this in her book, Walking In The Spirit*:

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd and said that the sheep hear His voice (Jn. 10:3,11). Did you know that a shepherd does not keep all the sheep close to him? A professional shepherd from Cyprus told me that sheep that walk close to the shepherd are those that choose to be there.

As the shepherd stands among the sheep in the morning, he doesn’t line them up in a certain order. He simply calls to them and begins to walk. When he calls, some of the sheep begin to run toward him, pushing others out of the way, to get to him first. These are the sheep that want to be close to the shepherd, to feel his touch and hear his voice. Others that want to kick around and do their own thing stay aloof from him.

The shepherd knows all the names of his sheep, but he can’t talk to those that are not walking close to him. The ones He talks to the most as they walk along are those that keep in step with him, rubbing his leg to get his attention. What a picture of our Good Shepherd! He has given us the Holy Spirit to be our gentle guide — kind, tender, merciful, understanding. He is patient with us and willing to walk with us all the way. We need to acknowledge that we want to be near Him. Then we will do what is necessary to keep in step with our Lord.

So there’s the rub (pun intended): walking in step with the Spirit requires one thing on top of faith: your desire and willingness to stay close to your shepherd.

I know one thing for sure: He is willing. Are you?

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*© 1997 by Fuchsia T. Pickett, published by Creation House