Walking in the Spirit vs Walking in the Flesh — What It Really Means
It was a Monday morning, and the day had started rough for all of us. The enemy was in full swing. There was irritation, kids were arguing, tension was rising, and it was only 7 am! Ryan had just left for work, and although I had already spent time with God earlier that morning, I knew, for my own sanity, I needed to meet with Him again before the day continued, or I would absolutely lose it. While the kids ate breakfast, I cranked up the worship music and started singing and dancing. Yes, dancing. I joke with my husband that if there were streamers at our church, I’d be the one running up and down the aisles! Ha! My spirit wants to jump out at times in pure worship, which is a whole other topic for another day.
Now, let me be very transparent. There are more times than I would like to admit that, when the enemy is in full swing in our home, I allow him to work in me, causing me to only add to the problem rather than help it. Thankfully, this was not one of those moments, and because I chose to meet with God instead of the enemy, it opened the door for Him to speak. As I spent time with the Lord in worship, I heard Him say that the schooling he needed me to teach our children and myself was walking by the Spirit, and not by the flesh. This is a phrase I wasn’t familiar with as a child, but I came to hear it a lot as an adult. But what exactly does that mean, walking by the spirit and not the flesh?
To walk in the spirit, we first have to understand the indwelling of Holy Spirit in us. This is literally God taking up permanent residence in the bodies of believers and disciples of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament the power of God would come and go to the saints allowing them to do the miraculous at times, but wouldn’t always remain with them (Ezekiel 11:5 and Judges 15:14). But once Christ died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, the presence of Holy Spirit would now become permanent inside our bodies (see John 16:7). “He lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17).
God says that our bodies are the temple for Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the innermost section of the temple was the Holy of Holies, where animals were sacrificed to atone for sins. God's presence was there, but the High Priest could enter only once a year. But once Jesus died and paid the ultimate and final price for our sins, the need for the physical temple, where only the high priest was allowed to enter, was no longer required, because now God’s presence would reside permanently inside us. Our bodies would become the new temple. That means we would be able to walk in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). Our prayer life would now be enriched with the power and intercession of the Spirit (Romans 8:26-27). The revelation to understand and apply scripture could take place (1 Corinthians 2:12). There would be a prompting of conviction and confession of sin (1 John 1:9), and so much more.
We are now able to “walk” in the ways of the Lord because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 8:4). That means we yield to Holy Spirit’s control and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and influence our every move, rather than our own flesh or satan. This goes beyond just walking in the Spirit to avoid sin and instead involves us being directed moment by moment each day by Holy Spirit. This isn’t always easy, as the culture and influence of the world we live in seem to press in on us from every direction. But when we choose to make life choices that purposely remove our own fleshly influence and the influence of Satan, and we choose to listen to Holy Spirit’s promptings, our whole world and life change, and it’s always for the better!
For us that day, walking by the spirit meant letting God lead in what He wanted to teach us. At first, when I heard this, it was hard for me to obey immediately. We were already behind in our schoolwork, and I was getting a little stressed. Still, the Lord reminded me of one of the many reasons we chose to homeschool, to allow for as many opportunities as possible to teach, show, and reveal God to our kids. So I obeyed.
I told the kids that school would look a little different that day, that we would lean into the heart of worship through Bible reading, praise, prayer, and serving others. We spent the day outside by our fire pit, learning the names of God, then walked to our playground to practice worship through song. We then began praying and declaring healing for those we knew were sick, and we talked about serving others as we drove to our friends' house, who were on vacation, to help take care of their chickens. What started as a tense, angry, bickering, divisive day had turned into a peaceful, fun, loving, and united time with my children. I thanked the Lord and thought that was it, but God had more in store. There was fruit from this obedience of not walking in the ways of the world in getting the things done in the secular that we feel are dire, versus getting the things done that the Lord has asked us to, and I was about to see this.
Later that day, our elderly neighbor came over to see the kids. I had told them earlier about a twisted artery in his head that was causing pain. Milana, our middle child, who was five at the time, was the first to pray for his healing while he was with us. He said he felt her prayers and later that night told me he was feeling better. Later that evening, our firstborn, Malachi, who was eight, heard the Lord tell him to go pray for the two workers working on the property next door. Ryan and I were in the middle of making dinner, and I asked if we could wait. He immediately said no because he was afraid they would leave. We stopped cooking, and as a family, we all walked over to our neighbor’s house (whom we hadn’t met yet, since they had just moved in) and introduced ourselves to the two workers. I’ll be honest, I felt uncomfortable walking over. I have no problem praying for people who are in front of me, but walking up to random strangers in someone’s backyard who we don’t know, while they’re in the middle of working, to ask if they need prayer wasn’t something I did regularly. It stretched me, and I’m so glad it did, because when we asked if they needed any prayer, one of the men said yes. He said he was having a bad day because his brother was in the hospital. Malachi began praying for his brother's healing, and then Milana joined in. The man was taken aback and incredibly thankful for what they did.
We walked home, and I was in awe of what I was seeing, but God wasn’t done. The next day, we go to get my son’s haircut, and while we’re waiting, Milana says, “Mama, I think God wants me to pray for someone, but I don’t know who.” I told her to ask God, and he would show her. A few minutes later, she said it’s Malachi’s hairdresser. After the haircut is done and we’re about to pay, I tell Lauren (my son’s hairdresser) that Milana has something she wanted to say. Milana then asked if she needed prayer. Lauren tells her yes. There’s a private Christian school she really wants her two kids to get into, but she doesn’t think they'll get in because the wait list is long. Milana starts praying right then, in the middle of the hair salon, that God would open a door and make a way. Two days later, I get a text from Lauren that says the following,
“Hey Julie, it’s Lauren, please tell your daughter thank you so much for praying for my two kids. I got an email yesterday, and they both were accepted to the Christian school we were on the waiting list for. Thank you, guys, so much for your prayers and kindness. I just wanted to share the good news. God is so good, and he heard our prayers once again. Thank you so much!”
Now here’s what’s so cool. A few weeks before all this took place, Milana was in her bed, upset, feeling that God didn’t hear her, nor did he respond. After I read Lauren’s text, I asked Milana what made her want to pray for Lauren. I wondered if she got a feeling or something, and she said, no, she hadn’t felt a feeling. She said she heard God’s voice tell her to pray for someone, and after praying, she heard God say it was Malachi’s hairdresser. I reminded her of when she was upset about not hearing from the Lord or about not hearing him speak to her. I told her he had just done so, and through her obedience, she was part of an answered prayer. I then read Lauren’s text. Her face lit up with excitement, and the biggest smile came over. And she said she realized that God does hear her and he does answer. And on top of all this, the schoolwork I felt we were behind on, which was causing unnecessary stress for me, was teaching one of my children to read, but it just wasn't clicking for them. All of a sudden, it just clicked for them days later after our obedience to God, and they started reading!
Now, please hear my heart. I don’t write this to brag on our kids or family. We Taylors are a work in progress, and there is so much the Lord is doing and needs to do in our family, hence the arguing, chaos, and the enemy at work that early Monday morning. Nor am I saying that walking by the spirit means that every time you'll experience an overabundance of blessings like we did that day and days to follow. I'm writing this strictly because my kids and I learned such a valuable lesson that day. We were reminded what it meant to walk in the spirit, and then we saw the fruit of that obedience in drawing closer to God. When we push off the voices of this world telling us what we need to do and what needs to be done, and instead tune our ears to the voice of the Lord and obey even when it doesn’t make sense, God will show up in the mightiest way, impacting not just us, but those around us.
That day also started the journey of me realizing that I was making the kids’ schooling an idol. I was walking in fear and under pressure, feeling the weight of their education on my shoulders as their homeschool teacher, trying to control what I thought should be done and make sure I didn’t miss anything. I have now started letting go and letting God take the lead, giving Him control of my children and knowing the grace and mercy that follow when I miss something. It’s an incredibly beautiful and peaceful place to be when we step back, let go of the reins, and let God do the leading.
What are the things in your life that the world or your own flesh is telling you need to be done, need to be accomplished by a specific timeline, and need to be handled in a certain way? Are they:
The way your kids are doing school, or how your family functions?
Pressure to be at a certain place in life, marriage, kids, etc., that the world says you should arrive at a certain age/time?
Activities you or you and your family are involved in?
The job you’re currently in?
What are the things that you feel the Lord’s prompting to lean into, even if they are uncomfortable? Are they:
Asking the person checking you out in the grocery line if they need prayer?
Planning to eat at a particular restaurant, and, while driving, sensing the Lord to go somewhere else, but not knowing why?
Seeing someone at the gas pump and feeling drawn to go ask if they’re ok?
Noticing the waitress who’s smiling every time she comes to your table, but you sense there’s something deep inside troubling her?
The more we tune in to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and choose to walk by the Holy Spirit, and let Him lead, the more we allow God to move in us and through us, bringing forth breakthroughs, healing, protection, and provision in a multitude of ways, that’s not just for us, but also impacts those around us, and changes lives forever.
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you for the indwelling of Holy Spirit inside me, who guides, leads, empowers, and convicts me when I allow. Forgive me, Father, when I’ve gotten caught up in the world's mind and motion of busyness, that I’ve not been available to hear your voice lead. I declare and decree today that I will choose to quiet myself, sit with you during the chaos, and tune my ears and heart to hear your voice tell me what you desire for me to do in the moment. I decree that the perfect and pleasing will of God that is written in each of mine and my family’s scrolls will be fulfilled in Jesus name. I will walk in boldness and not fear of man, as I obey your voice. I will let go of control and allow you, Lord, to take the reins, and will obey when you tell me what to do. Thank you for how you lead, guide, prune, heal, provide, protect, empower, and answer our hearts' cry when we choose to obey.
Praying for you all!
Love,
Julie and Ryan
