Good morning. It’s Sunday, January 4th, aka National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

🥳 Congratulations on starting today with God, and thank you for letting us be a part of it.

The phrase “walk in the Spirit” gets used a lot in Christian circles, but the Bible gives a very practical meaning behind it. It is not about chasing a feeling or reaching some mystical level of faith. It is about how a believer lives day by day, moment by moment, making choices that are led by God instead of the flesh.

The clearest explanation comes from Paul in Galatians.

Galatians 5:16 (NIV)

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

But to understand this fully, we need the verse before and the verse after.

The verse before

Galatians 5:15 (NIV)

“If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Paul is speaking to believers who are struggling with conflict, selfishness, and division. This shows that walking in the Spirit is not just personal. It affects how we treat other people. When the flesh is in control, relationships suffer. Pride grows. Anger grows. Comparison grows.

The main verse

Galatians 5:16 (NIV)

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Notice Paul does not say to fight the flesh harder. He says to walk by the Spirit. The focus is not on self control alone, but on direction. Walking implies movement, habit, and consistency. It is a daily choice to follow the Spirit’s lead instead of reacting from human desire.

The verse after

Galatians 5:17 (NIV)

“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.”

This explains why walking in the Spirit can feel difficult. There is an ongoing conflict inside every believer. The flesh wants comfort, control, recognition, and pleasure. The Spirit leads toward obedience, humility, patience, and love. One must be followed. Both cannot lead at the same time.

Walking in the Spirit does not mean being perfect. It means being responsive. It looks like choosing forgiveness instead of revenge. Obedience instead of convenience. Trust instead of fear. It is letting God shape reactions, decisions, and desires over time.

The Christian life is not about trying harder in the flesh. It is about yielding more fully to the Spirit. As believers walk with Him, the pull of the flesh weakens, and a new way of living takes shape.

That is what it truly means to walk in the Spirit.

When you’re not sure how to pray, A.C.T.S. gives you a simple path to follow: Adore, Confess, Thank, and Ask.

Adoration: God we praise You for guiding lives by Your Spirit.

Confession: Forgive us for choosing desires instead of listening to You.

Thanksgiving: Thank You for giving Your spirit to lead us daily.

Supplication: Help me walk by the Spirit and reflect Jesus today.

In Jesus name, Amen

“Count ‘Em” by Brandon Lake

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See you tomorrow,

Zach | Start With God