Spirit or Flesh Walking

What does it mean to walk in the spirit, and how do we know if we are truly walking in the spirit? How many situations come up in one day that we have to make a choice? That choice to “walk in the flesh” or “walk in the spirit?” What are the consequences of our choices?

I chose to walk to “walk in the flesh” for many years and decided to do what I wanted when I wanted. Since I was walking in the flesh I wasn’t going forward I was just going around in circles, and at times downward. My thinking was these “worldly things” were fun, they were making me happy, and in some things, I even tried to justify my behavior. I tried to make it seem to myself like what I was doing wasn’t all that bad. Actually, I was running – running from God. I wanted to do things my way, and my attitude was nobody is my boss!! Not the right way to live when you have been a Christian since the age of 7, but it is the truth.

Turn to Galatians 5: 16- 25 “But I say, walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh: for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do things you please. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of god.

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control: against such things, there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Clearly, this is an outline of what is “flesh” and what is “spirit”; What we should and should not be doing. Since we are not perfect –we can expect to mess up – even at times “royally blow it”. The Lord though says in Lamentations 3:19-24 “Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me (or humbled in me).

These I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.”

Also 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So since we know we are going to “blow it” because we're not perfect – we have the assurance that we have forgiveness and His mercy is ever constant and present in our lives.

The next time we are about to open our mouths or we start thinking the wrong thing – we need to quickly realize what we’re doing. We need to get out of our “flesh” and walk in the “spirit”.

A lot of times it’s a second-by-second process, but once were accustomed to recognizing it we can get out of it quicker and easier. God says He sent His Holy Spirit to be a comforter and teacher to us. The Bible warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 4:30. We can grieve the Holy Spirit by not walking in the spirit – His spirit.

We need to always be sensing His presence in our lives, and when at times He’s prompting us to say or do something, and when He’s prompting us not to say or do something.