Kick to the Finish
- Never lose you awe and wonder of God
- Be God-inside minded
- Realize that you are united in spirit with God
- Renew your mind with the Word
- Spend time in God’s presence
- Get accustomed to hearing God
Six powerful principles each of us can apply to our lives as we continue to grow in our walk with the Lord and especially instructive as we learn how keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is all about depending on the Spirit of Christ within us and not on ourselves. This wisdom comes as part 3 of a series entitled, “Learning to Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit, which has been focused on living a victorious life that glorifies and honors God through the Holy Spirit.
It is wonderfully written by Nigerian-born Chizobam Idahosa, who now lives with her husband and 3 daughters on the east coast of the United States and whose first name means “God saves me.” Her writing is both practical and poignant as her faith is deep and I hope you’ll come to love and glean from it as much as I have.
If you’ve missed any of the two previous posts that go deeper into explaining the above 6 principles you may catch up with them here and here.
As I’ve shared previously (to some of your shock and amazement bordering on disbelief), at one time, mine was the body of a long-distance runner. It seemed almost effortless to several goes a week “take a lap” around the small town I was living in at the time with my running buddy – a distance of some 13-14 miles. Now, it seems, my days of seeking the endorphin rush from a good run like that with my friend have faded into mostly having to talk myself in to getting out for a good walk from time-to-time and actually celebrating the life God has given me when my heart pounds as I ascend the small hills around our neighborhood. But one lesson I’ve retained through all of it, is the power of a strong finish. Back when my Nike’s seemed to fly a bit faster even to now as they pull me somewhat more reluctantly along the path, I always keep my eyes fixed on the finish.
And that’s my prayer for each of us now, as we read and begin to absorb and apply the wisdom that Chizobam teaches, may we become people who, at whatever pace we’re able, work to bring about real and lasting change in our lives. By learning, keeping in step with and adhering to the Blessed Holy Spirit who dwells within each of us. To the Glory of God, now and forever.
Right here with you,
Terry
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
HOW TO KEEP IN STEP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT…CONTD.
- SET YOUR MIND AND DETERMINE THAT YOU WILL WALK IN THE SPIRIT
“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:5-6
This point can easily be the first on the list. Make your mind up to give the Holy Spirit full access to every area of your life. Yield to Him. No off-limits and no pretending. Allow Him to illuminate all the hidden crevices of your life. He will not force Himself on you but as you yield, He will lead and direct you.
Present yourself as an instrument of worship and be sensitive. Once He brings something to light, be quick to listen and obey. This isn’t all about negative things, He will also lead you and guide you to share the gospel and minister to others.
- DECLUTTER YOUR MIND
What do you spend most of your time on? Do you spend copious amounts of time on social media, news and entertainment?
You are the product of what you feed your mind. Garbage in = garbage out.
You cannot expect to be able to hear the voice of God and keep in step with the Holy Spirit when your mind is cluttered with the noise of the world. You will need to decide what is important to you. If hearing from God and obeying Him promptly and swiftly is important to you, then at some point you will need to wise-up and tune out the world. Let Philippians 4:8 be your guiding principle for what you watch or read on TV or social media.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2
- DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sin, especially of the willful type grieves the Spirit. Sin is anything that is contrary to the will of God for your life. When He convicts you of sin, cut it out. If you continue, you are definitely not walking in the Spirit but in the flesh.
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:30-32
“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Do not quench, suppress or resist the Spirit. When you do this, you will neither display the fruit of the Spirit nor walk in the power of God.
The more you harden your heart by resisting and suppressing His voice and direction, the less you are able to hear Him and walk with Him. Don’t try to see how far you can go within the gray zone while still maintaining your claim as a child of God. The Scripture that comes to mind is from Hebrews 10: 26-31, which states,
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
- WHEN YOU HAVE FAILED TO KEEP IN STEP
So what happens when you blow it? What next? Should you throw in the towel and quit?
Do not spend time wallowing in condemnation. Instead repent, ask for forgiveness, accept God’s forgiveness and get back on the straight and narrow. God does not delight in anyones destruction, instead, He is patient with us and desires that we turn around and come to Him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
It is important to know that the Holy Spirit is neither the accuser nor the great condemner. He is your teacher, advocate helper and encourager (John 14:16, Romans 8:1). When you have failed, He will neither overlook it nor cover it up but He will correct you, discipline you and show you where and how you missed it. Then as you yield to His correction, He will encourage and direct you back to the right path.
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ” Hebrews 12:7-8
Personal Experience
I do not write these posts as one who has attained perfection. Instead, I write primarily for myself with the hope of encouraging others. I have had multiple “failures” at keeping in step with the Holy Spirit since I published the first post but God’s grace supersedes my weaknesses, faults, sins and offenses. I ask God for forgiveness and I depend on His help. He has never shoved me away, instead, He restores me and empowers me to continue walking with Him.
CONCLUSION
Keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is all about depending on the Spirit of Christ within us and not on ourselves. It doesn’t necessarily mean that things will always go as smoothly as we planned. Instead, it means that Christ in us is our definite hope of glory and our victory lies in yielding our lives completely to him.
It’s about living our lives rooted and grounded in Christ (Colossians 2:7) such that in him alone we live and move and have our beings (Acts 17:28).
My prayer is that we come to understand that everything God instructs us to do through the Holy Spirit, small or big, is for our good, to prosper us and to bring us in line with His plans for us. Therefore, I firmly encourage you to commit to keep in step with the Holy Spirit through the grace of God already lavished abundantly on you.