If you’ve been reading my blog for the last couple of years, you know I’ve been struggling with how to keep God first as a writer and a person who pursues goals.
After countless truth journaling sessions, going through Taste for Truth twice with my writing issues in mind, visiting with God over and over again about the same things, and even blogging about it and getting advice from you guys, here’s the conclusion I’m coming to:
If I want to be close to God as a busy person who pursues goals, a morning quiet time isn’t enough. I need to develop the habit of walking with Him throughout the day.
This was much easier to do back in the days when I wasn’t pursuing goals.
Walking in the Spirit
Paul talks about walking with God in Galatians 5:16 where he says “walk by the spirit so you don’t carry out the desires of the flesh.”
In my current case, the desires of the flesh are to get my work work done quickly and easily! And when that doesn’t happen (which it usually doesn’t) my first impulse isn’t to go to God for help. It’s to waste time on the Internet.
If I want to stop wasting time on the Internet (or as Paul says, stop carrying out the desire of the flesh), I need to learn how to walk by the Spirit in this new-to-me pursuing-goals lifestyle.
What Does That Mean?
Walking in the Spirit is one of those phrases that means different things to different people. Here’s what I think it means: You walk with Him throughout the day, just like you walk with your fellow hikers on a backpacking trip.
In other words, you visit with Him. You’re quiet with Him. You enjoy life with Him.
You share the good and the bad, and when things get tough, you don’t go your own way. Instead, you lean in closer and rely on His strength because there’s no way you can do it on your own. Or maybe you could do it on your own, but it certainly wouldn’t be as joyous.
I’m just recently back from a backpacking trip with my family (my husband and three of our four kids) to the Grand Canyon so walking with companions is fresh in my mind.
Learning to Lean
When I was on mile 26 of our hike, I was feeling a little non-joyous.
We had already hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, done a 12 mile day hike on our rest day, and were now two miles from the top and still going up, up, up.
I was slogging, and although I was still enjoying the beautiful view and my hiking companions, I was exhausted.
My wonderful family (who are all in much better shape than I am) offered to carry some of my stuff, and I took them up on it. We stopped, and they cheerfully started grabbing things from my pack: my Kindle, my journal, my flip flops, my water bottles, my foam pad, even my sleeping bag.
When we started hiking again, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders. And while the hike was still difficult, it was much easier than before.
Walking in the Spirit is like walking with a hiking partner who is much more studly than you are. Not only do you have His incredible companionship, you also have His incredible strength. We just need to ask Him for help.
But what does that look like on a practical level? We’ll talk about that in our next post. Click here to read the next post.
This is one of my favorite posts of yours so far, Barb. Maybe it’s because I’ve been studying this topic too lately. Maybe it’s because I love the analogy: “You walk with Him throughout the day, just like you walk with your fellow hikers on a backpacking trip.” Regardless, I look forward to your next post on it. For me, walking in the Spirit has transformed my life. It did almost 15 years ago when I learned why God gave His Spirit to believers, and it did again recently when I began studying the topic again and going even deeper. He wants to be in every detail of my life, and as I let Him, every detail becomes more fulfilling and meaningful. There’s more peace even in the chaos and drama. Hope you experience this too! Oh, in my recent studies, I read the book “The Wonderful Holy Spirit-Led Life” by Charles Stanley and recommend it.
I love what you said here, Kari: “He wants to be in every detail of my life, and as I let Him, every detail becomes more fulfilling and meaningful.” I have found that to be so true and also the peace you speak of. Thanks for the book recommend by Charles Stanley. I’ll have to check that out!
Love this topic and your insights. Write and right on!
Thanks for that encouragement, Kathy. I really appreciate it! :)
Oh Barb, This is so true. Leaning in on Him and allowing Him to carry our burdens. Wow, I needed this reminder today! Thank you! BTW – I’m really impressed by your hiking accomplishment. Way to go!!
Thanks, Deb. It was a fun trip. I love camping, hiking, and backpacking!
I’ve found that just a few breaks throughout the day to pray and to reorient myself can make a huge difference.
That makes a huge difference for me as well.
Interesting that you mention this passage as it’s what God lead me to yesterday!
My flesh wants things to go easy and quickly. Walking in the Spirit to me means I focus on God’s priorities and trust His timing in place of my own.
You’re great!
That is interesting! I guess we’re on the same wavelength! Focusing on God’s priorities and timing is so critical for us as writers. Thanks for the input, TC!
Yes it is! And after a wonderful conversation with a friend (wink) this passages really drove home what God wants me to focus on. When I walk with Him as my focus and guide, I feel less stress to meet the demands I put upon myself.
So glad to be able to call you friend. Have a blessed weekend!
You too, TC!
I can sure understand your illustration Barb! We just went on a hiking trip and I’m so thankful that I now have children old enough to carry a pack. The only backpack we had was a girls panda bear backpack. My daughter saw me carrying it and right away said, “Dad you can’t walk around with that on your back!” She took it from me and lightened by load! I love the illustration about walking in the Spirit because so many people think that it is a laborious thing to do.
That’s fascinating, Caleb. I’ve never thought of it that way. I think in a sense it is laborious since you have to make the effort and our natural reaction is to go to our tried and true coping techniques, but what it really is, is a letting go of everything to God, which ultimately makes life much less laborious. That’s funny about the panda bear backpack. Maybe you should start carrying that all the time!
Great post, Barb. I too struggle with putting God 1st when it comes to wrting and blogging (and really all of life :). Good word picture of the hiking partner and the Spirit. Very nice.
Thanks, Dave. And thanks for stopping by!
GREAT topic barb! I try to be intentional about praying and talking with God throughout my day, like He is right beside me, because He is:) I use to have reminders on my phone to remind me to pray, read a passage, or talk with God and for whatever reason I stopped doing that, maybe I should start back up. Thanks for a great post!
That’s a good idea to have reminders on your phone, Dan. I think anything we can do to remember helps.
YES, the key is remembering:)
I’m glad I found this post, very insightful. This new year I made a decision to walk with God and give Him my all but I soon discovered my fleshly desires warring with my spirit and then I gave in in my heart but before I would execute that wrong I had an urge to look this topic up. Your posts have really blessed me and shown me how to remain steadfast. Thanks. from Nigeria.
Hi David! So great to hear from you all the way from Nigeria! I know the feeling of making those decisions and then having a hard time following through on them. I’ll be praying that God will help you. So glad that the post helped!