Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
‘What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?’ is a question I once asked myself. For the longest time, I used to think it meant literally looking weird and saying Praise the Lord to everyone you meet or constantly speaking in tongues over every conversation. Many times, we are told to walk in the Spirit but very little is said about what the details are. It’s hardly explained what walking in the Spirit means so most people come up with their own idea of what they believe it means. So one day I sat down to think on this verse.
First the word ‘walk’ proved that it was going to be a cooperative activity. You don’t use another person’s legs to walk. You have to use your own leg. This means the Spirit of God won’t do anything with me if I’m not willing to be part of the process. So in my bid to overcome the flesh, the Holy Spirit won’t make the inclinations I have just disappear. Rather, I have to make a decision to avail myself so that His influence will override those inclinations of the flesh.
‘Walk’ also gives a sense of movement. It means it’s a journey I have to take until Christ comes. There’s never going to be a moment in life even after I’m born again that I won’t face a temptation to agree to what the flesh desires. In Genesis 1:2, we see that when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Emphasis on the Spirit of God moved. This scripture showed us that the Holy Spirit isn’t static, he moves and so if He does, we would also have to be moving. The movement of the Holy Spirit is meant to keep us in constant fellowship with Him. If He were static, we would know Him fully and be able to guess what He is doing at every point in time so there would be no need to fellowship.
We fellowship so we know what His next move is.
Then my mind went to Psalm 1:1-3, In that verse we see the word ‘walk’. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. In this scripture, I discover that the way a person walks is determined by the counsel they receive. There’s a part of walking in the Spirit that is not just prayer but also who or what I listen to and the people I surround myself with. There’s a certain kind of company I can keep that would make me a better Christian and there’s another kind that could make me an atheist. Another thing I see in this scripture is the fact that this person meditates in the law of the Lord and that is why how he walks is different. In other words, what I think about influences how I walk. It means there is a connection between my walk in the Spirit and my thoughts.
What you meditate on determines how you walk. The walking begins with a thought.
Philippians 4:6-8 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The scripture begins by saying to be anxious for nothing because anxiety stems from thoughts, negative thoughts to be precise. Then he says to pray about the issue and peace will show up and now lists what to think about after the prayer. It means after prayer, what you would have to keep dealing with are your thoughts. You won’t be praying every single second while you’re awake but you’d be thinking most of the time you’re awake. No wonder thoughts are also considered as prayer in Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Definition 1: A cooperative effort
Definition 2: Movement or progressive journey
Definition 3: Thoughts that serve as a right atmosphere
In summary, we can define walking in the Spirit as cooperating with the Spirit to make progressive changes in our lives through the agency of our thoughts.
The Word In Clarity 