I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
Walking is good for our health. It can reduce stress, and help us feel more energetic, lose weight and sleep better.
Wherever there is public parking, I choose a spot a little bit away from the building. This forces me to exercise by walking a slightly longer distance than I normally would. I have other options, but I choose to live this way.
When you walk, you cannot move forward and backwards at the same time. We can see the passage from Galatians in the same way: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Living a life of the Spirit is contrary to living according to our own selfish ways, governed by “the lust of the flesh.”
The Spirit produces fruit like love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness. I know that I am sometimes out of step with this list. When I experience a lack of peace it is usually because I am trying to fix a worrying situation that is beyond my control. Peace and worry cannot coexist. That is what Galatians 5:16 teaches me: I have to choose how I will walk. Just as walking is good for my body, walking in the Spirit is good for my mental health.
Prayer helps me be mindful that I have choices in how I walk through each day of my life. It is my prayer that you take the health challenge. Live your life each day with the hope of walking into a brighter future.
God bless you!