Excerpt from my new book-Heaven-Sent Devotions
Walk—Don’t Run Ahead
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Have you noticed wherever children are, whether at school, church, home or at play, they tend to run to wherever they are going? They are eager to get to the next thing or the next place, so they run.
That is what some of us believers are like too. We want to hurry through prayer or Bible study or church to get on to the next thing attracting us. But Paul cautions us to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). He says it will keep us from being distracted by the fleshly desires constantly wanting our attention and time. He says we are to be “led by the Spirit” (v.18). Then tells us we will bear the fruit of the Spirit if we do (v.22).
Pat, a sister in Christ, shared how she struggled with keeping in step with the Spirit. Whenever she wanted to do something for the LORD, she tended to throw herself headlong into action without praying or asking for His guidance. She said she was running ahead the Spirit, not allowing Him to lead. Then, one day He impressed this restraint on her. She felt Him say, “Get out of my way, Pat, and let me take the lead!”
Her story reminded me that sanctification is a process requiring patience on my part to walk by Him and not run ahead, so He can grow His fruit in me in His time. We sometimes succumb to the tyranny of the world or the flesh that call or distract us from staying in close connection to the Spirit. We need to listen to His voice as Pat did, to get out of His way, back in step with Him and allow Him to lead us.
Do you tend to run ahead of the Spirit? How can you let Him lead?
Holy Spirit, remind me to take one step at a time following You.