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Strolling along

Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

A big change that has happened in my life these past seven years is that I am not in a hurry to get things done. I have deadlines and places to be, but time is not such a burden. There was a period of time that I had to remove my watch because I found myself looking at it every time I was in the presence of others, because I needed to be somewhere else. I have my routines. There are appointments that I have, that is why I am writing this on a Saturday instead of a Wednesday. I am actually going to my youngest son’s baseball games in a couple of hours.

When I am at the grocery store, I see so many people in a hurry, even at ten in the morning. I can stop to talk to the florist or the cashier. I am not in a hurry to get anywhere; I have time to look for something interesting to fix my family this week. That to me is what it is like to stroll along.

The message translation says that this about the above verse, “My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness.” Rick Reiner writes that walking in the spirit is taken from a Greek word peripateo which is translated as to live, we are to live in the Spirit. Do you have habits? I have a routine which you could say is a habit. Every Sunday we make an order at a Starbucks for coffee, then we go get my car washed before church. There is a Starbucks we frequent (three to choose from…I know first world problems), but if there is a big even in town I have to choose from the other two. Here is the habitual part, instead of my mind being in auto pilot, I have to choose a different route. To live in the Spirit is to be habitual.

Another translation for peripateo can mean to stroll in the Spirit. I like this because this is how I see my life these days. A person who strolls in the Spirit is rested, released, unhurried, peaceful and calm. It is the opposite of living in the flesh, which allows you to become obsessed and compulsive. Peace is a promise of the abundant life we have in Christ. To me this is a position of prosperity of the Kingdom of God, along with love and joy.

Ephesians 2:3 (AMP) Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind].

Now the opposite of living in the Spirit or strolling in the Spirit is to live according to our flesh. Does being saved mean I no longer have to deal with my flesh. No, however, we can now overcome our flesh. According to the next verses I am going to show you, to live according to our flesh means that we have consciously made a decision to live according to the law that we were freed from. Living in bondage to our sin is living under the law. Freedom to sin is saying you like being bound to the law. You are not really free.

Galatians 5:17-18 (AMP) For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

Galatians 5:17 (MSG) For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are contrary to each other, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.

Galatians 5:17 (TPT) When your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit you hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your self-life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.

What about there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus? This is found in Romans 8:1 and is often used out of context by believers to defend their flesh life. Christ did not come to defend sin, He came to demolish sin in our lives. This takes a life of surrender and submission to Christ. Paul even talks about the struggle in Romans 7:15-25. He talks about his struggle with the flesh, yet He could not overcome without Christ. That is why there is not condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because even though his flesh struggles the one strolling, walking, living in the Spirit will overcome.

Romans 8:5 (AMP) For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose].

Renew that mind. Get those thoughts lined up with His Word. Take them captive and allow Christ to renew every part of your life. This is not a onetime thing. This is daily. When we get in the habit of it, peace and joy are on the other side. I made a decision years ago that I did not want to live a certain way anymore. I did not like having worries and turmoil be a part of what I expected every day. I did not want to be embittered and push people away. I wanted to be known for joy and peace. So, I made a change. I chose surrender. It did not happen overnight, and it has not come into completion. I am pressing forward in Christ.

Make the path of the Spirit the place where you habitually live and walk. Become so comfortable on this spiritual path that you learn to leisurely and peacefully stroll along in the higher things that God has called you to. Living your life in the Spirit realm is not to ignore those around you. It is your place of freedom so that the yearnings of your flesh do not creep out and fulfill themselves. We cannot be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. However, we cannot be so overcome by the world that we have neglected our spirit life. It is a stroll. Be at rest and at peace and joy will be sure to follow.

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He Understands

Ephesians 4:22-25 (AMP) That, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. Therefore, rejecting all falsehood [whether lying, defrauding, telling half-truths, spreading rumors, any such as these], speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one another [and we are all parts of the body of Christ].

So many of us put our faith in Christ as our Savior, but fail to allow Him to be our redeemer, our healer, our restorer. Christ has done everything He needs to do to be one with us. God lives in me, He sees me, He hears me, He loves me and He understands me. People may not always understand you, but Jesus will always understand you.

I have recently gone through a great heart ache. People in our church have recently walked away from ours to go to another in our area. As pastors it is hard because it feels like a divorce (or that is what those who have never had a divorce would think it feels like). I had a dream about one of them last night. It was a dream of when he and his brother were younger, with short curly hair. In my dream I wept. I also imagined myself using something to dull the feeling of pain. That is something I have never done in the natural, so why would I dream about that?

Galatians 5:16-17 (AMP) But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do.

I have recently been reading about the time in David’s life when his son Absalom was against him. You can read about their tumultuous relationship in 2 Samuel 13-18. David did not send orders to end Absalom’s life. He asked for them to have mercy on his son, the son that was trying to overthrow him. I often think about how we want God to take revenge for us to those that have done us wrong. My husband made a good point yesterday and I have been asking God to help with my heart change. We have have every right to feel the way we do when someone wrongs us…in the natural. However, when we are born again we have to submit those feelings to the Kingdom and let go of our rights.

David writes during this time in Psalms 26:11 (AMP), “But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful and gracious to me.”

Psalms 139:23-24 (AMP) Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

I cannot allow these hurts to hold me back. I cannot beat myself up for them coming up sometimes either. I have to change my focus. I have to allow the Holy Spirit to heal me from the inside out. Remember, Jesus understands. David did have his moments when he cried out to God to hide his iniquity. Psalms 38:16 (AMP), For I pray, “May they not rejoice over me, who, when my foot slips, would boast against me.” We want to hide in our shame. We want to close the doors to our bedroom and not let the light shine in so we can stay in the bed all day long. Let Christ in!

Let me know how I can pray for you today. Let me know if you have moments like this too, or if you are in a season right now that is hard to get out of. I want to pray with you! You can email me at amanda@desiringformore.org.