How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit: 5 Ways
Have you ever wondered how to know if you are walking in the Spirit? Maybe you want to be used by God and live for his honor, but you wonder if you are making a difference.
Today, we’ll talk about how to know you’re walking in the Spirit and explore practical ways to stay in step with the Holy Spirit. First, I’ll offer a silly example of choosing between walking in the Spirit and walking in the flesh. Then, we’ll look at five ways to walk in the Spirit.
How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit
Every summer, we clean our house by spraying it with a soapy, homemade concoction. Due to a malfunctioning sprayer, we had a hard time reaching the upper story of the house last summer. After volunteering to undertake the task, I had no idea that our moldy siding was about to be a lesson on how to keep in step with the Spirit of the Living God.
“No problem,” I declared, “We can pop the screens out of the upstairs windows and spray it from inside.”
On a blazing hot August afternoon, I stuck my head out my son’s open bedroom window and attempted to spray the house with a piddly stream of soapy water.
Realizing that the sprayer still wasn’t functioning correctly, I pumped it about fifty times with hopes of increasing the pressure. Mind you, I was standing in a bedroom.
Much to my shock, the pumping worked—just not in the way I was expecting. The pressure became so strong that it blew the hose straight off the jug. With the force of a firehose, soapy water sprayed the entire bedroom. By the time I’d thrown the explosive device out the window, my two-year-old son and I stood soapy, forlorn, and in shock.
Deciding to Keep in Step With the Spirit
His big blue eyes searched my face for a response as soap bubbles streamed from his matted blonde hair.
In a split second, I made a decision.
Instead of lashing out in frustration, I decided to laugh. I decided to lighten up and take myself less seriously. My little boy burst into giggles, and we laughed about the explosion all afternoon.
As I reflected on the event later in the day, I realized that choosing to laugh was a victory.
Often, I’m so focused on my plans and purposes that I can’t laugh at myself. Slowly, God is teaching me to be humble enough to laugh at my imperfections and gentle enough to extend grace to myself. I’m learning to lighten up and take myself less seriously.
This joy-filled way of living feels like tapping into the childlikeness Jesus desires for us. It is also a surprisingly simple way to keep in step with the Spirit of God.
As God’s kingdom-bearers, we are the emotional epicenters of our homes and workplaces. What if we learned to laugh more freely, let go of the little things, and embrace spontaneity? What if we were known for our humility, gentleness, and patience? I believe we’d change the world—one smile at a time.
As God’s kingdom-bearers, we are the emotional epicenters of our homes and workplaces. What if we learned to take ourselves less seriously? #JOY #Jesus #EncounteringGod Share on X
Learning to Laugh Deeply
When was the last time you humbly laughed at yourself in a frustrating moment?
Do you tend to lose your patience in frustration, or are you able to laugh at life’s mishaps?
God has a sense of humor. He is also full of joy and even whimsy.
I encourage you to ask God to show you a recent moment when you reacted with anger but could have reacted with laughter. What does he want to show you about taking yourself less seriously? Is this a shift that would be healthy for you?
Watch for opportunities to cultivate joy, humility, patience, and humor today.
When situations don’t go your way, step back and let yourself laugh. Notice how this approach infuses even your most frustrating situations with joy, and notice how the people around you respond. In doing so, you will keep in step with the Spirit of God.
How to Know If You Are Walking in the Spirit: 5 Ways
Now, let’s look at five concrete ways to discern whether you are walking in the Spirit.
1. You are bearing the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Are you regularly displaying the fruit of the Spirit?
Are you laughing easily or coming unglued in anger and frustration?
The Holy Spirit works in our lives to produce the attributes listed above. If you are increasingly bearing these good fruits, you are most likely walking in the Spirit.
2. You are resisting the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19-21 reads, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”
Do these behaviors describe your life? If so, you are most likely not walking in the Spirit.
We all face temptations to succumb to the flesh. There is grace for failure; however, we are called to resist these acts of the flesh.
3. You are pursing Jesus.
If you are pursuing Jesus through prayer, worship, Bible reading, and community, you are most likely walking in the Spirit.
4. You are sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Additionally, if you are sensitive to the conviction of the Holy Spirit during times of sin, you are most likely walking the Spirit. When we go astray, the Holy Spirit gently convicts us (without shame or condemnation).
5. Your heart is filled with love and compassion for others.
Lastly, the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with love and compassion for others. If you are growing in these areas, you are most likely walking in the Spirit.
A Free Gift to Help You Keep in Step With the Spirit:
I have a confession for you today. For years, I have struggled with Angry Cleaning, Angry Cooking, and even Angry Parenting. If you can relate to this mentality, I have a gift for you. I invite you into my story as I share what God is revealing to me.
For a limited time, I invite you to download and read a chapter of my life-changing book, Lean Into Grace, right here. This chapter will help change the way you see the work God has placed in front of you and align your heart with his heart. Download this chapter for free with promo code GRACE right here. I pray it blesses you!
Calling All Moms and Daughters!
Additionally, my 12-year-old daughter, Bekah, and I wrote a mother-daughter devotional book to help mothers and daughters grow closer together while connecting with God. Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a shared journaling section. Multitudes of mothers, daughters, mentors, and younger women are being transformed by this book! You can find this book in eBook form for free on the Kindle Unlimited Plan or buy a print copy for 11.99 right here.
