Live by the Spirit

Those who live as their human nature tells them to, have their minds controlled by what human nature wants. Those who live as the Spirit tells them to, have their minds controlled by what the Spirit wants. To be controlled by human nature results in death; to be controlled by the Spirit results in life and peace.(Romans 8:5-6 GNT)

I have been giving some thought to the renovation of my personal life. Asking myself what does it mean to walk daily in the Spirit. Without being antsy fancy just thinking what could be better in my life? However remember God doesn't require us to be a stuffed shirt or without humour. If the three most important fruits of a Holy Spirit led life are Love, Peace and Joy then glumness has no place in Christianity!

What follows though is a rough guide to walking in the Spirit... when followed it will inevitably promote growth in the things of God and in our personal life. Try these components together for three months and I guarantee that your interior life will change. I said previously that I had learnt over the years that Christianity is a relationship and not a religion. Well, listed below is what will help that relationship with God grow. Furthermore your relationships with others will also change.

• Regular daily prayer time changes us. Remember "to pray is to change" 
• Time spent in the Word feeds our spirit and challenges us. Read the bible because it is the "Word of God" and contains God's message for us which is relevant for all even to this moment
• Asking the Holy Spirit what he wants you to do today, sometimes it is only one thing - the Spirit rarely overwhelms us with demands
• Give up judging other people! 
• Ask God who you should be forgiving (also think about who you have offended and go to them asking to be forgiven) 
• Live in community! This is harder if you are housebound but if possible spend time with other Christians. Find people who are trying to grow up in the Lord and be with them. (it says in Proverbs "iron sharpens iron" and this is the community effect, it sharpens us so that we are more alert to the things of the Lord) 
• Meditating on the Our Father. There is a reason why Jesus told his disciples to pray using this prayer read/say it often and you will start to get why

All components to be taken daily as the master physician Doctor Jesus has directed us. Start out with at least 10 minutes a day and then eventually build it up to thirty minutes or more each day. Components can be taken in any order but a good way to start is by reading a psalm out loud. Always talk to Jesus as you would a friend. Give time to listening too because in our pauses God can inspire us Follow this blog for the next seven weeks and I will talk in more detail about each of the steps above. But don't delay start today!

Dear Jesus, I desire my life to be different - renew in me your Holy Spirit so that I may grow in the things of God. Send your peace to my life. Give me a listening heart. Amen