Walking by the Spirit: How to Keep in Step with the Spirit Daily
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”—Gal. 5:25 (ESV)
A long time ago, I tried my hand at gardening. I wasn’t growing fruit, but I did manage to cultivate seedlings in the cool basement of our Portland home and gently transplant them into planters, where they blossomed all summer. I couldn’t take credit for their growth, yet I felt joy in participating in the process.
Nurturing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is similar. While reading the Bible, praying and serving faithfully is important, we can’t produce spiritual fruit in our own strength. We can’t force love, joy, peace, and patience to appear, and I’ve felt the discouragement of seeing the same old weeds of anger, envy, or anxiety pop up again no matter how hard I try.
This is why it’s vital to understand how God grows His fruit in us. Surprisingly, His plan doesn’t begin with more striving—but with deeper dependence. Let’s explore a few key passages in Galatians that provide some context of “walking by the Spirit.” What does it really mean to keep in step with Him, and how do we cultivate a life where His fruit flourishes?
Background: Freedom Lived Out in the Spirit
In Galatians, Paul paints a picture of Christian growth that isn’t about self-effort but Spirit-empowered transformation. This freedom is a gift of grace—not for indulging ourselves, but for participating in God’s work of forming Christ in us. Let’s look at some ideas leading up to this passage.
Read Galatians 2:16–21.
What are the two ways Paul contrasts in verse 16 for how a person seeks to be justified? Which one actually justifies us?
In verse 19, what does Paul say he has “died to,” and how does this change how he now lives?
How does verse 20 challenge both self-reliance and law-keeping as a means of spiritual growth?
Read Galatians 3:1–5.
What is Paul’s concern for the Galatians?
In verse 5, how does the Spirit work in us? On what basis does this happen?
Why do you think believers often start by faith but then try to grow through their own effort? What would it look like to trust the Spirit in the same way you trusted Him for salvation?
Read Galatians 5:13–15.
What does Paul say Christian freedom is not for? What is it for?
What command sums up the law in verse 14?
How does Paul’s view of freedom differ from our culture’s definition of freedom? In what areas of your life do you tend to see freedom as self-expression rather than loving service?
Read Galatians 5:16–25.
What are the works of the flesh listed in verses 19–21? What are the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22–23? Write them down side by side.
According to verse 17, what two desires are in conflict within a believer?
How does the contrast between “works” and “fruit” shape your view of sanctification? What does it look like for you to “keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25) in your daily life?
The Spirit’s Work in a Believer’s Life
Walking by the Spirit is Paul’s vision for the Spirit-formed life. It’s active and dynamic—not sitting idle, but not striving in our own strength either. In Galatians 5:16–18, Paul describes two competing forces: the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit. These desires pull in opposite directions, creating a real tension in the believer’s life.
Trying harder or relying on self-discipline alone won’t help us overcome the flesh. Paul warns in Galatians 3:3, “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Just as we trusted the Spirit at salvation, we must continue relying on Him for growth. Christian maturity isn’t graduating from grace—it’s growing deeper into it.
The Gospel frees us not only from sin’s penalty but also from its power. This freedom isn’t permission to live however we want; it’s the ability to live as God intended—in loving obedience to Him. Our obedience doesn’t earn His acceptance; it’s the evidence of His Spirit transforming us from within.
Through our union with Christ, the Spirit now dwells in us. He is not an add-on to the Gospel; He applies Christ’s finished work to our hearts (Gal. 4:6), empowering us to walk in newness of life. Paul calls them the “fruit of the Spirit,” not the “fruit of self-effort.”
To “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) is to cultivate a posture of moment-by-moment dependence. It’s a living relationship—not a checklist to follow or a fleeting emotion to chase. As we walk, the Spirit uproots the weeds of the flesh and nurtures seeds of Christlikeness. Fruit grows—not because we strive harder, but because we stay connected to the One who gives life.
Cultivating a Spirit-Formed Life
So how do we practically cultivate this kind of daily, dependent walk with Him? Let’s explore how to tend the “garden” of your heart with the Spirit’s help.
Soil: Prepare Your Heart
Begin each day by surrendering your heart to Him each day and asking Him to search your heart (Ps. 139:23-24). “Lord, I need Your Spirit to lead me today. What’s the condition of my heart? What needs tilling, softening, or turning over today?”
Water: Stay in the Word and Prayer
Time in Scripture and prayer nourishes your soul. Make it relational, not just routine. Ask the Spirit to make the Word come alive. (See my series on studying the Word and on prayer for more thoughts.)
Weeds: Identify and Remove the Flesh
Notice signs of the flesh—irritability, envy, pride. Confess them and ask the Spirit to uproot and replace them with love, joy, peace.
As we work through each fruit of the Spirit in this series, we’ll be exploring what it means to walk with Him in these areas. Some fruits may come more naturally to you; others may feel like uphill climbs. But all of them reflect the beauty of a life surrendered to Christ.
These visible fruits are not what earn God’s acceptance—they are the evidence of a heart already transformed by His grace (James 2:17). The presence of fruit assures us that the Spirit is at work, and where there is fruit, there is life.
Remember: fruit doesn’t grow overnight, so be patient with the process! Stay connected to Christ, the true Vine (John 15:5), and trust His timing.
