But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God). – Galatians 5:16, Amplified Bible

In his book My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers wrote, “There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us.” (My Utmost for His Highest, www.utmost.org, January 16 Entry.)

Within us Christians dwells two natures: the sin nature we were born with and God’s nature, which we received when we were born again. Every day we hear calls from both, and the nature we yield to is the one we are most attuned to. By default we are more attuned to our old sin nature. Since we were born with that nature, it is the one we more easily identify with. As a result, it takes little or no effort to listen to our sin nature, just as it takes little or no effort to forego exercising the body in favor of sitting on the couch, watching our favorite TV program, and munching on a bag of chips. It has always been easier to destroy than to create, and that is why our sin nature – the nature that destroys – is so much easier to follow.

Walking with God requires creating a relationship with God, and creative work is hard work. Creating a relationship with God requires thought, action, and diligence. We must think of striving for the eternal treasures that are not subject to moth and to rust, and when we think on such treasures the temporary prizes of sin don’t compare. We must take action to read, to memorize, and to meditate on God’s Word so we know what advice He has for us to live life fully and victoriously. We must be diligent to talk to Him in prayer, sharing with Him our needs, struggles, joys, and souls. When we habitually think on the wonder of eternity and habitually spend time conversing with the Author of eternity, we cannot help but enjoy His company.

Communicate with God the same way you communicate with your best friend on Earth. If you do, you’ll find that your spirit and God’s Spirit will be just as in sync – really, even more so – than the souls of you and your best friend. Once you reach that level of communication, you indeed will be walking with God, and responding to the Holy Spirit that dwells within you will be not only habitual, it will be unavoidable.