PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT
Aug. 31st, 2026
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal. 5:25 NKJV)
There is a difference between living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit. Living in the spirit is given - walking is by choice.
We receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time we surrender and confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ. "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me". (Gal. 2:19-20) “...the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17 NIV)
Whereas, Walking in the Spirit is what we choose and practice daily. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal. 5:16-18 NIV)
To "live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit" means that because the Holy Spirit gives us new spiritual life, our daily choices and actions should match that new life.
It is possible to live in the spirit but not walk in or by the spirit. In fact many believers do not know that they have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, because there is nothing spectacular happening in their lives. The real eye opener happens when they realise that they cannot overcome the power of the flesh in their own power/struggle. It takes walking in the spirit to do this - walk in obedience in the instruction of the Master.
Spiritual gift does not prove a person is walking in the Spirit - e.g Samson. He had the gift to help his people (indwelling of God) but did not walk in the spirit - he became weak. Peter stopped eating with Gentile believers out of fear of criticism from Jewish Christians. He did not act in line with the truth of the gospel (walk in the spirit) so, Paul rebuked Peter publicly in Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14)
Essentially, "living in the spirit" comes down to having faith in God (that is, having an active belief and trust in God). "Walking in the spirit" comes down to what we focus on and what we practice (ie, the acts that we continually think about and commit). "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14)
Let the Holy Spirit control your choices instead of old selfish habits. Display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control. Refuse to follow harmful or selfish human appetites. Match your pace to His leading rather than trying to force your own way.
THE WORD: "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life". (Gal. 6:8 ESV)
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