How does one "Walk in the Spirit"?
It’s a question that cuts to the very core of the Christian experience, doesn't it? We've all read the verse. We all know we're supposed to do it:
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16 KJV)
But what does that actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon when the bills are due and the kids are screaming? For many, it feels like gritting your teeth and just trying really, really hard not to sin. It becomes a white-knuckled exercise in self-denial, a constant battle against the flesh that leaves you exhausted and feeling like a failure.
You look around and see other believers moving in supernatural power, hearing God's voice with clarity, and you can't help but feel a gnawing sense of frustration. "Why not me, Lord?" You're stuck in a spiritual rut, and the very command that promises freedom feels like another heavy burden you can't carry.
As the comments started rolling in on my post, I saw this exact struggle play out. Good, heartfelt answers. But one of the first responses was exactly what most of us have been taught: "By not fulfilling the lust of the flesh." It’s correct, of course, but as my friend Cameron pointed out, it’s working from the fruit to the root. It’s completely backward.
The Storm, the Boat, and the Gaze of Jesus
Let's get this straight right now: you cannot stop sinning by focusing on not sinning. It doesn't work. The answer isn't in what you're walking away from, but Who you're walking towards.
Think about Peter in the boat. It’s not a gentle sea cruise; it’s a full-blown storm. Cold, dark waves are crashing over the side. This is the storm of life—the temptations, the anxieties, the worries, and the fleshly desires.
And then, out in the middle of that chaos, you see Jesus. He's not fighting the storm; He's walking on top of it. Peter cries out:
"Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water." (Matthew 14:28 KJV)
And Jesus says one word: "Come."
When Peter swings his legs over the side of the boat, he has 360 degrees of choice. He could have tried to walk away from the boat just focusing on "not sinking." But instead, he fixes his eyes on the one stable point in the entire violent seascape: Jesus. He walks toward Jesus.
The moment he takes his eyes off Jesus and looks at the wind and the waves—the "lust of the flesh"—he begins to sink. Walking in the spirit is not about gritting your teeth to stay on top of the waves. It’s about keeping your eyes locked on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
From a Trailer to a Testimony
This isn't just a powerful metaphor; it’s how it works in real life. A testimony from my friend Shirley Johnson showed us exactly what this looks like.
She was in her trailer one day, reading her Bible and praying. As she was spending time with the Father, the Holy Spirit gave her a nudge: Go down the road and pray for a man. She didn't know him, but the Spirit told her to give him healing scriptures.
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14 KJV)
How do you get your senses exercised? By reason of use. Shirley stepped out of the boat. She drove to the man's house and told him, "Sir, I was sent here to tell you God loves you and He heals."
The man was stunned. He had just found out he had lung cancer. Two weeks later, he walked into her church to testify that he had asked Jesus into his heart—and the cancer was completely gone. Shirley wasn't focused on "not sinning"; she was focused on the voice of Jesus.
The Corral of Scripture and the Danger of a False Spirit
Shirley's story contains a vital safeguard: she went armed with the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will never, ever lead you to do something that contradicts the scriptures. The Bible is the corral for the horse of the Holy Spirit.
We are commanded:
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1 KJV)
The goal is to develop a relationship with the biblical Jesus. When you saturate yourself in His Word, you learn the tone of His voice. You can discern if a thought is from you, the enemy, or the Lord.
Walking in the Spirit is, at its heart, simply walking with Jesus. On that final day, many will claim to have done many "wonderful works," but Jesus will say:
"I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23 KJV)
They did the "stuff," but they didn't know Him. Don't let that be your story.
Key Takeaways
Focus on Jesus: Walking in the Spirit is about looking at Him, not focusing on your sins.
Exercise Your Senses: Step out in faith when you feel a nudge from the Spirit.
Use the Safeguard: Test every impression against the Word of God.
Prioritize Relationship: Works mean nothing without an intimate connection to Christ.
Action Items
Change Your Focus: For the next week, every time you feel tempted, consciously turn your attention to Jesus and thank Him for His grace.
Practice Listening: Spend five minutes in silence after your prayer time. Listen for scriptures or impressions.
Get "Worded Up": Read one chapter from the Gospels every day.
Find Your People: Surround yourself with spirit-filled brothers and sisters.
If this post has touched you, please share it. How have you learned to walk in the Spirit? Let me know in the comments below!
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