06/21/25 Walking by the Spirit

Takeaway: Disciples depend on the Spirit for guidance.

Opening Prayer (Saturday)

Father, thank You for the gift of rest. As I slow down today, help me to find peace in You. Restore my soul, deepen my faith, and renew my joy in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

Walking by the Spirit is not a one-time decision but a continual posture of dependence, surrender, and trust. In Ephesians 5:18, Paul draws a striking contrast between being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit. The image is powerful. Just as alcohol can influence a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior, Paul reveals that the Holy Spirit can have the same effect. However, in a far more redemptive and life-giving way. To be filled with the Spirit means to offer ourselves fully to His presence and power. It is a daily invitation to choose the Spirit’s way over the inclinations of the flesh, rejecting self-centered desires and embracing the desires of God.

Every day, we stand at a crossroads where the way of the flesh and the way of the Spirit diverge. The flesh pulls us toward selfishness, pride, anger, lust, and fear. It whispers that we must protect ourselves, and pursue our own desires at any cost. But the Spirit invites us into something better. The Spirit draws us to a life marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t simply traits to strive for, they are the fruit of a life filled by the Spirit. When we walk by the Spirit, we are allowing God to do His transforming work in us. It is His power that enables us to love the unlovable, to forgive when it’s hard, and to live with peace in the midst of chaos.

To walk by the Spirit also means we are learning to listen. The Spirit speaks, sometimes through scripture, sometimes through the gentle nudges in prayer, other times through the wise counsel of others. The Spirit always leads us closer to Jesus. The challenge is not His silence but our attentiveness. We must slow down, make space, and remain alert to the Spirit’s guidance. Walking by the Spirit means checking our reactions, thoughts, and decisions against the heart of God. And when we stumble, as we all do, the Spirit does not condemn but draws us back to God through grace.

Being filled with the Spirit is not about emotional highs or mountaintop experiences. It’s about a steady, humble life that reflects Christ more and more. It’s about choosing to speak truth in love when it would be easier to stay silent. It’s about serving others when no one is watching. It’s about resisting temptation not out of fear, but out of love for the One who gave Himself for us. The call of discipleship is not just to believe in Christ but to live by the Spirit. Each day is a fresh chance to be filled anew, to walk faithfully, and to let the Spirit guide you deeper into the life you were made for.

Questions

What does it mean to you personally to “walk by the Spirit” in your daily life?

In what areas are you most tempted to rely on your own strength instead of the Spirit’s guidance?

Application

Today, choose one moment to pause and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts, words, or actions. It could be in a conversation, a decision, or a moment of temptation. Reflect on how that intentional pause shifted your posture from self-reliance to spiritual dependence.

Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, fill me anew today. Help me to walk in step with You not out of duty, but from a heart atuned to Your leading. Quiet the noise around me so I can hear Your voice. Shape my thoughts, guide my choices, and bear Your fruit in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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