Galatians 5:25 :
If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.
We don’t start out our spiritual life walking perfectly. It is a learning process. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He expects us to confess our sins when we do them and to get up and walk again. Just like a child must learn by doing, walking in the Spirit is learned through practice. Taking a class or reading a book does not make us able to walk in the Spirit. We must actually place our confidence in the Holy Spirit and then He is able to produce character in us that would have been impossible for us to do ourselves.
We have an example of this in Peter’s life:
Matthew 14:27-32 :
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
He said, “Come!”
Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”
Did you realize that Peter was the only other man who ever walked on water other than Jesus? This event shows the difference between God’s power and Man’s power. Peter was still walking, but he wasn’t the power behind it! We know we are walking in the Spirit when what is happening couldn’t possibly be us! When we go out to do something impossible that God asks us to do, We to learn to trust in God’s work and completely put our own aside. When we take our focus off of Jesus and start doubting, we will fall down, but Jesus is there to take our hand when we cry “Lord, save me!” Notice that it was clear to the other disciples that it wasn’t Peter’s power. They worshiped Jesus. That’s how it should be with us also. It should be pretty obvious that it isn’t by our own power that we are living.