Don't Stop Walking

Day 21 – Walking in Step with the Spirit

Scripture:
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 (ESV)

Over the years, one of my favorite pregame moments at a Michigan football game was not kickoff. It was the entrance of the marching band. Long before the team ever took the field, you could hear the band approaching the stadium. Then suddenly, they would appear, marching in perfect unison, moving across the field with precision and purpose.

One of the most iconic moments is their trademark high step. Hundreds of band members, moving together, locked into the same rhythm, following the same leader, each step intentional and aligned. It is powerful. It is unforgettable. And it is a picture that helps us understand what Paul is saying in Galatians 5:25.

Paul does not simply say, “If we live by the Spirit, then the Spirit will do everything.” He says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” In other words, this is not accidental. It is intentional.

To live by the Spirit means we have been given new life through Christ. To walk in step with the Spirit means we choose, day after day, to follow His lead. It is learning to move when He moves, to stop when He stops, and to align our lives with His direction.

Over the last 21 days, we have talked about what it looks like to become more like Jesus. We have looked at the fruit that the Spirit produces in us when we surrender our lives to Him. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self control.

Paul now brings it all together. The fruit of the Spirit is not just something we admire. It is something we live out. And that only happens when we walk in step with the Spirit.

You cannot march in rhythm without paying attention. You cannot stay in formation without intentional effort. In the same way, we will never walk in step with the Spirit by accident. It requires daily decisions to prioritize time with God, to listen for His voice, and to obey His leading.

Over these past 21 days, you have made intentional choices. You chose to slow down. You chose to seek God. You chose to reflect on your life and invite the Spirit to shape you. The challenge now is simple, but profound.

Do not stop walking.

Do not treat these 21 days as a finish line. Let them be a starting point. Continue walking after Jesus. Continue making Him a priority. Continue keeping in step with the Spirit. As you do, your life will continue to be shaped into the likeness of Christ.

This is how we become more like Jesus. One step at a time. Together. In rhythm with the Spirit of God.

Reflection

• What does it look like for you to intentionally walk in step with the Spirit this season?
• What habits or distractions could pull you out of step if you are not paying attention?
• What is one daily practice you can commit to that helps you stay aligned with the Spirit?

Prayer
Lord, thank You for the life You have given me through Your Spirit. Help me not only to live by the Spirit, but to walk in step with Him each day. Give me ears to hear Your voice, a heart that is willing to obey, and a life that reflects Jesus. As I continue this journey, shape me, lead me, and help me become more like Him. Amen.