Walking with God and following the Holy Spirit in our life is a daily decision and attitude. Naturally speaking, we have worked all our life to become more independent: we learn to walk, talk, take care of ourself, earn our own living, and become an adult. We are independent! But when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior it started our new life in Him. No longer are we the final authority over where we will go and what we will do.
Once we receive Christ, we become dependent on Him! We study the Word and we follow His leading in all the affairs of life. He has a plan and purpose for our life and it is GOOD (Jeremiah 29:11). Just like it took time for us to grow up naturally, it will take time for us to become like Jesus - going where the Lord leads and doing what the Father tells us to do.
A Helpful Tool
God did not leave us to figure this all out on our own. He’s given us a helpful tool: praying in the Spirit. When we pray in the Spirit we speak out mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2). Some of those mysteries are the plans God has for us! Let’s challenge ourself to pray in other tongues daily.
Not all prayers must be prayed alone in a quiet room. Those prayer times are needed, but God wants to be a part of our everyday life, not just small sections when we can devote all of our attention to Him. We need to make room for the Holy Spirit to pray through us in what some would consider “not-so-spiritual” times and places.
We can pray while driving, cleaning the house, and walking the dog. Attach praying to everyday tasks and activities. Doing this helps us establish habits of prayer around our daily life. As a result, we will be more aware of Him and better recognize when He is leading us to take some time alone to pray.
We often grow the most when we’re actively applying the Word to situations in our daily life. The way Jesus responded to all kinds of people and situations is an example for us, and the Holy Spirit helps us when we’re facing challenges and encountering friction with others. When we read the Word, pray, and are obedient (all three ingredients are necessary) we will become more like Jesus — and that is growing up spiritually!