Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

There is a voice that prompts me to do things or to abstain from things regularly. When I didn’t know better I listen to it only if it matched my feelings. So if I really wanted to go driving with a friend and that still small voice whispered something about homework or chores, that is not the voice I want to listen to. But, as I mature in my relationship with God I begin to see the importance of keeping in step with the Spirit.

To keep in step with the Holy Spirit means that I am sensitive to God’s direction in every area of my life, and not just the big things. I am in tune when the Spirit says to give something or to abstain from buying something. I’m in tune when the Spirit says to not watch a particular movie or when it’s time to read His word. Many times certain choices seem harmless when we assess with the natural eye but the impact can be grave to our spirit. It’s like you need faith to be obedient to the Spirit because we are trusting that God knows what’s best for us. There are so many times I chose not to listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the outcome isn’t always favourable. Now, whenever I hear that still small voice whispering something to me I quickly take action. How do you really know?

READ MORE: Let your Father help you

That’s the question I ask myself when I am ready to sin. How do I really know it’s the Holy Spirit? It’s when we are faced with something that is tempting when we look for a way to be disobedient – we use our wit to outsmart the common sense of the Holy Spirit. I remember when I was still in University and I was being invited to go clubbing with all my friends. I had never gone before, but my church told me it was wrong to go. Convinced about all the fun I was going to have, the music and the friends that would be there, made me ask myself, what is the harm in going anyway? With maturity though, or when we have made one too many mistakes, we will KNOW how to keep in step with the Spirit. As young christians we often feel as if we have to rely on someone else’s experience rather than our own or the Spirit’s guidance, so it gets a little difficult. There are so many voices in our heads that we never really know which is the Holy Spirit or our own. Rest assured, spending time in the word of God for ourselves and in prayer helps to decipher the noise in our heads. Because the only voice you really want to be in tune with is the one that comes from the Holy Spirit.

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To live by the spirit means that you have nothing to do with the flesh. And it is hard to do that on your own. We need God’s help to live by the spirit. It’s like you are learning how to walk. We can only do so, one step at a time. Each day we take a step in God’s direction and He will tell us what to do. Our daily prayer should be, Not my will but thy will be done.