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Walking by the Spirit: A Life of Dependence on God
By Dave Jenkins
Not a Mystical Experience—A New Way of Life
“Walking by the Spirit” is one of the most misunderstood phrases in the Christian life. Some take it to mean following inner feelings or chasing spiritual experiences. But biblically, to walk by the Spirit is not about emotional highs—it’s about living in daily dependence on the Holy Spirit, grounded in the Word of God, and pursuing holiness by grace.
The Command and the Conflict
Paul says in Galatians 5:16, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The Christian life involves a daily battle between the flesh and the Spirit. But the command is not to fight in our own strength. It’s to walk—step by step—in the power of the Spirit who indwells every believer (Romans 8:9–14).
The Question: What Does It Mean to Walk by the Spirit?
Walking by the Spirit is not left to guesswork. Scripture explains that it is a Spirit-enabled pursuit of holiness, marked by grace and truth. We walk by the Spirit:
- Through the Word: The Spirit inspired Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) and uses it to guide, correct, and equip us. To walk by the Spirit means saturating your life with the Word of God.
- Through Prayer: Walking by the Spirit means prayerful dependence—not self-reliance. Romans 8:26 says the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us.
- Through Obedience: The Spirit doesn’t just inform us—He transforms us. We walk by the Spirit when we obey God’s Word, reject sin, and pursue godliness (Titus 2:11–14).
- Through Repentance: When we sin, the Spirit convicts us—not to shame us, but to lead us to Christ. Walking by the Spirit means walking in humility, grace, and repentance (1 John 1:9).
The Fruit of the Spirit
Walking by the Spirit leads to visible results. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These aren’t qualities we produce in our own strength; they are evidence of a life submitted to God’s Spirit.
What It Is Not
- Following your feelings.
- Waiting for mystical impressions.
- Living without accountability to Scripture or the Church.
Rather, it is a Spirit-enabled pursuit of Christlikeness, grounded in truth and fueled by grace.
Final Thoughts
The Christian life is not about willpower—it’s about Spirit power. To walk by the Spirit is to follow Jesus daily, empowered by the Spirit, guided by the Word, and anchored in the gospel.
Keep in step with the Spirit—not by striving harder, but by staying near to Christ and submitting yourself to His work as revealed in Scripture It’s not about perfection but daily progress and grow in Christ, for the rest of your life.
Check out the Contending for the Word Q&A at Servants of Grace or for more visit our YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
