~Keeping in Step~

{Galatians 5:18,25}
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

-Women's Devotional Bible
"LET US KEEP IN STEP with the Spirit."
It's as if Paul is describing those who are led by the Spirit as dancers who are in step with the perfect partner. In contrast, when moved by the flesh-impulses and thoughts that tell us to do as we desire-it's as if we are experiencing the clumsiness of a partner who keeps stepping on our toes and leading us in the wrong direction.
Like a dancer constantly tuned to the beat of the music, we must continually tune in to the voice of the Spirit and follow his lead. But, oh, how difficult it can be. The Spirit moves us to places where we might not feel quite comfortable, to step back when we want to step forward, to step forward when we want to step back. The rhythm might be too slow or too fast. Following the Spirit means resisting the urge to dance through life our way. It means relinquishing control.
How difficult is can be to be led by the Spirit and to hold our tongue. How difficult it is not to dance to the tune of popularity and to repeat that juicy piece of gossip we heard over coffee with friends. How humbling it is when the Spirit leads us to go low and say, "I'm sorry." How difficult it is to make the move to release resentment when we feel we've been wronged or unappreciated. When the enemy cuts in, he whispers in our ear, "What's a missed step here and there? No big deal. You can make up for it later." fueling the battle between flesh and Spirit.
Throughout the day we should ask ourselves, "Who am I being led by? My self, with its emotions, worries, pride, fears and selfishness? Am I being led by the enemy with his discordant tunes? Or am I being led by the Holy Spirit?"
Each time we move in step with the Spirit, we are saying yes to God. We're no longer bound to follow the whims of our flesh or the whispering of the evil one. We can choose to move in sync with the Spirit.

{Romans 6:6-14}
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

{Romans 8:5-8}
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

{1 Corinthians 3:16}
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?