Remember a recent time you tried to do something to be faithful to God, but only ended up exhausted and frustrated? In the stress of living in this fallen world, we can sometimes fall into the temptation to rely only on our own willpower to do something good. But it’s easy to discover that our human power is very limited compared to God’s unlimited power. Thankfully, God has given us a solution: His Holy Spirit.
Jesus tells his disciples in Acts 1:8: “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you,” and that highlights how one of the many ways the Holy Spirit can help you is by empowering you. The Holy Spirit is much more than just a positive, impersonal force, as some people imagine. Actually, the Holy Spirit is a personal part of God, along with God the Father and Jesus the Son. Jesus points out in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will serve personally as an advocate for believers: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
When you receive the Holy Spirit from God, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, so you’ll be connected to God’s Spirit anytime and anywhere. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:16: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” The wonderful reality is that a part of God lives inside of you! Even with that huge blessing, however, you still need to choose to rely on the Holy Spirit’s help (instead of just your own willpower) day by day. Choosing to do so opens up unlimited possibilities in your life. Here are 5 ways to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
1. Enjoy a partnership with the Holy Spirit every day. Instead of seeing your relationship with God as a series of rules you have to try to follow on your own, imagine it as an enjoyable partnership where the Holy Spirit provides the energy. This partnership gives you access to God’s wisdom and strength to help you in every situation. You won’t need to worry about struggling through each day, because you can count on the Holy Spirit to give you whatever you need. Galatians 5:16 encourages you: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” When you choose to walk in the power of the Spirit, you’ll find that unhealthy habits that used to interfere with your relationship with God – what the Bible calls the “flesh” – lose their grip on you. You don’t have to struggle to overcome them through willpower because the Spirit’s presence will fill up the space where those old desires used to tempt you. You’ll naturally notice God’s presence with you throughout your day, which will inspire you to connect with him and rely on his Spirit. The more you partner with the Holy Spirit, the more you’ll be able to enjoy your life, because you’ll feel more freedom and confidence. Ephesians 5:18-19 describes how the joy of being filled with the Holy Spirit can inspire you to praise God through music: “… be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” You can rely on the Holy Spirit to live each day to the fullest rather than just trying to get through the day.
2. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s strength when you’re tired. There will be days when you feel like you’ve reached your limit – both physically and emotionally. You might feel physically exhausted and emotionally flooded. The good news is that the Holy Spirit has no limits, so you can rely on the Holy Spirit to give you strength anytime and anywhere. Ephesians 3:16-17 describes the Holy Spirit providing inner strength that supports your faith: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Romans 8:26 encourages you that the Holy Spirit helps you when you pray, as well: “… the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” It’s incredible that even when you‘re too stressed and tired even to know what to ask for, the Holy Spirit is working on your behalf, advocating for you with the Father. Relying on the Holy Spirit’s strength can help you step into difficult situations with a sense of peace and confidence. You don’t have to wait until you feel brave enough or strong enough to take on a challenge. You can move forward knowing that, as you act, the Holy Spirit will provide the energy you need. Just like God provided manna to the Israelites in the desert as they needed it day by day, the Holy Spirit will give you exactly enough strength for each day. That can help you persevere and overcome challenges that would have caused you to give up otherwise.
3. Let the Holy Spirit’s love change your character. One of the most wonderful parts of walking in the Spirit is seeing your character change in ways that help you grow in holiness. You don’t need to try harder to be the person God wants you to be; you only need to stay connected to the Holy Spirit so God’s character starts to flow through you. The Bible calls this “the fruit of the Spirit,” and it’s evidence of God’s power at work in your life. Galatians 5:22-23 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” While all these character traits are vital, love is the most important because love is the essence of God. In 1 John 4:16, the Bible declares that “God is love” at his core. When you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, you’re plugging into the source of ultimate, unconditional love. God’s love is what allows all the other fruit of the Spirit to grow in your life. You can experience this well-being and spiritual growth by staying connected to the Holy Spirit like a branch stays connected to a vine. Jesus points out in John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When you remain in that loving connection through prayer, you don’t have to try to force anything in your life. Good results will appear naturally as you walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice in the Bible. You have a direct connection to the greatest teacher in history! Because the Holy Spirit inspired the words of the Bible, he’s the best person to help you understand how those words apply to your life right now. When you read the Bible, the Holy Spirit acts as a personal tutor, guiding you in understanding what you’re reading and applying it to your life so you can make the best decisions. You can expect the Holy Spirit to highlight exactly what you need to hear, exactly when you need to hear it. Jesus makes a wonderful promise to you in John 14:26: “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit can give you insights that you couldn’t have come up with on your own. Walking in the Spirit involves letting God’s truth reshape your entire perspective. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the stress of living in this fallen world, it can help to remember 2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” When you receive this truth, you can shift your focus from worrying about your circumstances to trusting God to meet your needs.
5. Use the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you to help others. Finally, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit includes contributing to this world in the unique ways God wants you to do so. The Holy Spirit has equipped you with specific spiritual gifts. When you use these gifts, the Holy Spirit works through you to help you help others in important ways. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:7: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Whether you have gifts for teaching, showing mercy, leadership, or something else, the Holy Spirit will give you the charge that makes your efforts effective. You might find yourself saying exactly the right words of encouragement to a stranger, understanding how to solve a problem that others don’t understand, feeling a sudden urge to call a friend, to give generously to a cause, and much more. Walking in this power challenges you to follow the nudges the Holy Spirit gives you regularly, courageously. Jesus promises in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses...” The Holy Spirit will help you be a faithful and effective witness by helping you live into your purpose from God.
In conclusion, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is the most exciting journey you can ever take. It’s a constant adventure of connecting with God’s Spirit and experiencing the wonder of God’s work in your life every day. The Holy Spirit is right there with you, ready and eager to empower every step you take. Enjoy the walk!
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/yotrak
