Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
“Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day….” The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein song ran through my mind as I started on my daily walk. I had veered off my typical morning routine, lingering longer than usual in my devotions before walking. As the song came to mind, I veered off the lyrics as well: “I got a wonderful feeling, Jesus is guiding my way.”
That proved to be truer than I knew.
I was concerned for one of my neighbors. Although I almost never see him on my walk, this morning he “happened” to be in his yard. I knew it was no accident. The Lord had set it up for me to offer him both encouragement and prayer. I would have missed it if I had not altered my routine.
I like planning my days. Following a routine actually helps me be more efficient. But I don’t want my patterns to cause me to miss those quiet nudges—nudges the Holy Spirit instigates. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as when God interjects himself right into my plans and offers me the opportunity to trade my agenda for his.
Picasso once famously remarked, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” He knew we need to learn how to color within the lines before our wild creativity takes us over the edge. Immersing ourselves in the basics gives us the freedom to fly.
I think keeping in step with the Spirit is kind of like that. Paul exhorted the Galatians to keep walking in the freedom of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t want them to return to solely living life as a set of rules. Keeping in step with the Spirit would protect them from legalism and open the door to lives filled with more fruitfulness than they could imagine (Galatians 5:22-23).
So the next time you sense a Holy Spirit nudge, follow it! Don’t get stuck in your own agenda. I promise many beautiful mornings and beautiful days await when you keep in step with the Spirit.