I try to walk a few days a week. Sometimes I walk with a friend, but most often by myself. I listen to books a lot when I walk, and occasionally a podcast. The steady step after step helps me concentrate.

But sometimes I like to walk with nothing in my ears and no agenda on my mind. After writing about the goodness of the Lord and his enduring love, one psalmist ended with this bit of wisdom:

Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

I know of no better way to ponder—to give thought to something—than to take a walk. Something about the physicality of moving settles my mind and cracks open my soul.

We’re encouraged to muse, ponder, and reflect on the ways of the Lord. For me, it works best when I take a walk.

Psalm 107 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Taylor Jacobs

Ever notice how we treat one another when we drive? Recently a guy zoomed by me, expressed his displease with a finger, and yelled out the window. All for moving a bit too slow on an icy day. If we were walking down the street together, a slow down would engender an “excuse me,” or “beg your pardon.” But encase someone behind glass and steel and anger boils unchecked.

Jesus spoke to this tendency:

What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.

Jesus spoke these words to folks who strived to look good on the outside, to eat the proper foods and follow the rules. But deplorable actions continued to flow, despite their attempts to look good. Their hearts—our hearts—are bent toward selfishness and folly. We present well, but the core of our being gives us away.

The remedy? Allow the Holy Spirit free reign in our hearts to convict and cauterize the wound. When we begin to change from the inside, the outer and inner begin to match. Those around us start to notice, and we might even become kinder behind the wheel.

Mark 7 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Kathy

Last week I put together a new desk for my wife. It came in two flat boxes, along with several pages of instructions. I laid everything out on the floor, then step by step put pieces together. Only once did I give in to profanity (I sank a screw too deep). Pretty good for a couple hours working through someone else’s instructions.

Paul gave profound instruction to the church members in Galatia when he wrote, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Paul compared the acts of the flesh—envy, debauchery, selfishness, and rage to name a few—with the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Spirit trumps the flesh. But how do we actually go about walking by the Spirit?

There are two important pre-requisites to walking with the Spirit of God. First, we need to keep short accounts. Sin in our life (acts of the flesh) short-circuits the work of the Spirit. So we bow and ask God to reveal our attitudes and actions that displease him. We pay attention to what we hear. We confess and make things right. We open our dark places to the light of the Lord.

Confession and repentance are vital to walking by the Spirit—you cannot skip this part of the instructions.

Then we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to spread his influence within us: Holy Spirit, think with my thoughts, speak with my mouth, and extend my heart to others in love. Lord, develop within me love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Never forget how astounding it is that we can actually engage with God. To do so more intimately, employ these disciplines of spirituality every day. Let a time of praying, listening and responding settle into your routine. You’ll be surprised at the changes you notice when you keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Annie Spratt

Paul traveled the Roman world, preaching to Jews and Gentiles, raising converts and launching churches. He targeted busy ports, met with the leading people of each city, and always kept good people at his side. Paul was strategic. But he actually started the church in Galatia by getting sick.

Paul reminded the Galatians of their chance encounter. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

Paul may have contracted malaria (common in that part of the world), or was weak and still recovering from the physical beatings suffered earlier in his missionary journey. Paul dealt with bad eyesight, so maybe his eyes were inflamed and bothering him? Regardless, he paused his travels in Galatia, to the benefit of those folks who soon heard about Jesus.

In prison Paul preached to his jailers, leading many to faith in Christ. Here he preached to his caregivers, leaving behind an active and vibrant church.

I hate getting sick, and I hate watching well-made plans go awry. But it’s worth paying attention when you or I find ourselves in such a place. Because sometimes God messes with our strategies in order to push us in fresh, more fruitful directions.

Galatians 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Kelly Sikkema