“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ” – Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT)
It takes approximately five to seven years to complete a medical school programme, but what truly makes someone a doctor is their ability to apply the theoretical knowledge gained to real-life situations. In other words, to be a practising doctor, you must actually practise. It’s the same for us as believers. The Bible says that those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God (Romans 8:14). Therefore, the evidence of your sonship as a believer is found in how you live your life according to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
As we continue our series on spiritual fervour, it’s essential to translate our devotion into daily living by walking in the Spirit. We’ve discussed staying on fire by praying and feeding on God’s Word. It is now time to discuss moving from devotion to daily living, which involves walking in the Spirit. As the anchor scripture indicates, the unrenewed mind is constantly at war with the Spirit, often leading to a life of contradictions. This is why we must learn to align ourselves with the Holy Spirit.
To walk in the Spirit means to be led by the Spirit, and a life led by the Spirit will produce godly fruits (Galatians 5:25) and glorify God. Beyond worship songs, tongues of fire, and memorised verses, the richness of your devotional life must be evident in your thoughts, words, actions, and relationships. Walking in the Spirit compels us towards obedience. When we pray and study the Word, we are comforted, strengthened, corrected, empowered, and instructed—our response should be obedience. The Word of God is the voice of God; a person led by the Spirit is a doer of the Word, treating it as their final authority.
As believers, the result of our actions or how we respond to situations is directly related to the quality of our devotion. Our devotional fervour must be both vertical (Godward) and horizontal (Manward). It should permeate every aspect of daily life, including who you are at work or at home, your priorities, and how you make decisions. In our relationships with others, we are called to walk in love and strive to live peaceably with all (Ephesians 5:2, Romans 12:18). A Spirit-led believer knows to guard their thoughts and words (Philippians 4:8, Ephesians 4:29); we must be vigilant about what we allow into our hearts and minds.
A vital objective behind a rich devotional experience is primarily relationship – to worship God and submit to His leadership. The evidence of such relationship filters through all aspects of our lives.
SAY THIS: I am not just a hearer but also a doer of the word. No aspect of my life is beyond the reach of God. Through the quality of my devotion, I bear good fruits. Glory!
Bible Reading Plan: Colossians 3-4