Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
This one is so much tougher than it would seem to be. I know so many Christians who project this vibe of, “I’m living this perfect life now because I believe in Jesus.”
I wish I was one of them. No, I’m not coveting them; no, I’m not envious of them. I simply wish I knew how to do what they do because since I got serious about being committed to Jesus, my life has been much tougher. Since I got serious about eliminating hypocrisy from my life, I find I really stink at it. I find I am more of a hypocrite than ever. The more I work at doing something to be less of a hypocrite, the more I feel convicted at being one. The more I do to reign in my impatience, or anger, or judgmental streak, or whatever, the more I’m convicted that I’m impatient, angry, judgmental, and more.
Believe it or not, that’s a part of keeping in step with the Spirit. Part of walking with God’s Holy Spirit is letting Him convict you when temptations and sins are in your path. Many times, He speaks to us through conscience. The next time you feel bad about saying something, doing something, being seriously tempted to do something, remind yourself that this feeling is a gift. It might just be Holy Spirit talking with you, asking you, “are you sure about that?”
Other times, He speaks to us through circumstances, through things that happen, through words spoken or written. Surely you’ve felt this before. Someone says something to you ‘in just the right way’ and it registers, makes you think, maybe makes you act on what they said. It could simply be circumstance. Or, perhaps that’s God’s Spirit working through someone else to reach you.
Most powerful of all is His Word. Keeping in step with the Spirit means diving deeper into God’s Word in the Bible. Reading it again and again, researching passages for meaning, comparing translations, and, most of all, time spent with you and Jesus alone in prayer, asking Him to reveal His meanings to you. Putting into what you do. The more you read His Word, the more it works on your heart to convict you where conviction might be necessary and to train you up in walking His way.
That will be one of the toughest things we can do. It might mean changing relationships, making new friends, or letting go of others. It might mean drastic changes in what you say or do. But, if the Spirit is truly asking you to do so, how can we not? It probably won’t be easy, but it will be the right thing.
For further reading: Galatians 5:26
Holy Spirit, speak to me. Help me to understand what You want me to know.
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