Walk by the Spirit - The Wesleyan Church

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16)

Not having our desires met feels unnatural. Whether it’s adhering to a budget or an exercise plan, there are moments when our impulses—what we want at the moment—are at war with what we really want (our long-term intentions). This kind of life seems to go against the grain of a joyful life. However, the people who tend to be the most joy-filled are content with what they have, and the most loving people I encounter have been the ones who go against the grain of our culture, giving up the desires of the flesh.

These people lean into the Spirit. They seem to be tuned in to how God is moving and active in their lives and the lives of others. They appear to have a life dedicated to discipline, seeing the good, and curiosity about themselves, others, and God. They want a life that isn’t narrow or rigid but brings freedom in the Spirit.

This passage describes a holy life—one that doesn’t gratify sinful desires—as a life of “walking by the Spirit,” putting one foot in front of another and exploring the way of Jesus. His ways give us all the desires and joy we will ever need. Our walk with God—even when it leads us away from the things we most immediately crave—will lead us down a path to deeper fulfillment.

Reflect on what other disciplines you can explore with the Spirit.

Sarah Linder is a lay minister for congregational care at College Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana, and a stay-at-home mom of three boys.