Walking in the Spirit – a Practical GuideSample

Now Go Have Fun With Friends!

Just like surfing, walking in the Spirit is best done with friends! Implied in Galatians 5 is the context of community. Many of the wonderful fruits of the Spirit mentioned in verse 22 cannot be expressed in isolation. I have personally found that I need other people to help me along my journey. For example, when I first tried to set aside time for God, I was failing miserably because I am not a morning person but the only quiet time I could find was early in the morning before everyone else woke up. I was able to get past this hurdle with the help of a good friend who would message me every morning to ensure that I got off my bed. We all need allies on our faith-walk. Surround yourself with at least one or two people who love God passionately and love you unconditionally. The type of people who won’t judge you but who will also tell you hard truths when you need to hear them.

Lastly, here is a practical guide to illustrate the nature of your time with God:

1. Start with a simple prayer thanking God for this time and declaring your intent to spend undivided time with Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

2. Read a scripture of your choice. Read it slowly and take note of what resonates with you. Listen to what the Lord is saying to you through the passage.

3. Pray in response to what the Lord is saying. You might repent, give thanks, give praise, ask for help, claim promises, or declare what the Lord is saying to your circumstances… do whatever is appropriate and natural.

4. End with thanksgiving.

5. Take any action that God impressed upon you. (E.g., call a friend to apologize.)

Do not approach it like tasks (give thanks, pray, read bible). Approach it as a conversation. Be radically candid and expect God to speak to you. Set a duration that is doable for you. If you start with just 10 minutes a day, don’t worry, God will use it!

We hope this plan encouraged you. Explore other resources from Matik Nicholls at www.authenticjoy.org