Keep Up
When you walk with a friend, you have to keep up with each other. If one of you rushes ahead or lags, you’re not walking together anymore. And it’s not that different when it comes to walking with God.
The Apostle Paul said this:
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 NIV
When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we’re given the gift of grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. To put it simply, the Holy Spirit is God. We are given God! The Holy Spirit leads, guides, and works in and through us.
There are times when we’re tempted to run ahead of the Spirit. Because, if we’re honest, He’s not always moving as quickly as we’d like. We might even question if He’s moving or if He cares. That’s why walking with God requires trust.
There are other times when we’re tempted to lag behind the Spirit. Because, at times, He might be guiding us somewhere that might make us a little uncomfortable. It takes effort, intentionality, and both physical and emotional strength. That’s why walking with God requires courage.
We can keep in step with the Spirit by sticking close to Him—paying attention, talking to Him, reading His Word, and being in community with those who love Him.
Because when we’re committed to sticking close to Him, one thing is certain: The Holy Spirit will guide you—every step of the way.
Timeless Wisdom
After being rescued from Egyptian slavery and wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, the Hebrew people finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised.
Though their long-time leader, Moses, had just died, God appointed Joshua to take his place. During this transition of authority, God gave Joshua some wise advice:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8 NIV
The “Book of the Law” refers to the first five books of the Bible—also known as the Torah (in Hebrew) or the Pentateuch (in Greek). Today, we have that and more—66 books of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments.
God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. These instructions reveal God’s intentions, character, and heart.
And even though God was speaking directly to Joshua at that time, His advice holds timeless ...