The Better Way of the Spirit

While reading James 5 this week, during our “Know Him” reading, verse 19 jumped out at me: “...if anyone among you wanders from the truth.” I often thought of wandering as a dramatic exit into sin, but it can be far more subtle. It is the moment we stop being intentional and drift back into relying on our own flesh—our own logic, strength, and effort—thinking we are walking in the Spirit when we are actually just drifting along in the flesh.

This subtle drift reminds me of Jesus’ words to Martha in Luke 10. Martha’s anxiousness and trouble came from being distracted by "much serving." While her service for Jesus was important, it was missing the "life" of the Spirit because she had become overwhelmed by the work itself. Jesus pointed her to a better part, the one Mary had chosen: a consistent focusing on Him in the midst of it all.

Even in our service for God and the good things we do, there must be a total reliance on the Spirit. We have to keep our minds stayed on Him and our attention on things above where Christ is, rather than worrying about the outcome, our productivity, or even the fruit we hope to see. As Philippians 3 warns us, we are to take no confidence in the flesh. When we become reliant on our own gifts, talents, and strengths, we forget that the flesh profits nothing—it is the Spirit alone that gives life.

My challenge for us today is to practice being more intentional in our walk. The moment you find yourself drawing strength from your own soul or your own flesh, I encourage you to step back and return to the Spirit. Quiet your soul, return your gaze to Him, and refuse to lean on your own understanding. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He truly will direct our paths. Let us not just work for Him today, but let us be renewed by the fresh Rhema of His voice, allowing His spoken words to be the very Spirit and life that sustain us.