My son, Brendan, is an avid runner. Rarely missing a day, he sometimes even goes for two runs. As the saying goes, the more you run, the more you enjoy running, and that certainly seems true for him.
Training our body is much like training the soul. The more we walk in God’s will, the more we delight in His path. We all struggle with something; whether it’s holding back our temper, exercising patience, or overcoming a personal challenge, we desperately need God’s wisdom and strength.
In Galatians Chapter 5, Paul explains that the flesh is at war with the Spirit, and the flesh desires what opposes the Spirit. But there’s good news in all this—we’re not working alone. To walk in the Spirit is to be led by the Spirit, guiding us toward righteousness, leading us away from sin. God’s Spirit is transformative, as evidenced by 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV):
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
This powerful transformation is further illustrated in Ezekiel 36:26, where God promises a renewal of our hearts:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
What God is saying here is that He’s providing us with new and better desires. He’s replacing our old hearts with new ones, exchanging our yearning for sin with a longing to serve God and walk in His will.
During my twenties, I grappled with pride. Whenever Michael and I found ourselves in an argument, I let my thoughts fester, holding on to resentment and focusing on my feelings and self-importance. I wanted to change the way I reacted, but I wasn’t sure how.
Since then, I’ve come to learn that Godliness stems from within. Before we can change our behavior, we have to focus on changing our hearts by strengthening our spiritual walk. If we want to be led by the Spirit, we need to open our hearts to the Spirit and nurture our spiritual growth.
For those looking to do that, here are 5 practical tips:
- Dedicate time each day for prayer, meditation, and reading the Bible.
- Seek guidance from trusted spiritual leaders or mentors.
- Surround yourself with a supportive community that shares your faith and values.
- Reflect on your actions and attitudes, and identify areas where you can grow in alignment with God’s will.
- Practice gratitude and recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife
