Running a Good Race: in step with the Spirit

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

As I sat on a bench at the end of the trail that beautiful summer morning, a distant hot air balloon floated into view over the Wasatch. The rays of sunrise capturing its brilliant colors penetrated my solitude. My spirit soared, just a little, above the mundane. 

Is that not what it is—to live by the Spirit, ladies? My feet need not touch the worries of the world if I keep in step with Him. I can run that good race on Spirit air, so-to-speak.

The propane burner heats the air in the panels of the balloon to make it lighter than the cooler outside air. Since hot air rises, the balloon floats up effortlessly. Navigation is basically a matter of increasing or decreasing the temperature of the air in the balloon.

The Spirit breathes new life into the man of faith, floating him above the things of the world. Then He works in that new life to mature it to holiness. The man of God is the one who decides how much to avail himself of the breath of the Spirit.

The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary equates the Hebrew ruah Spirit of God at creation, hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2), with the Greek pneuma Spirit that we who are born of the Spirit (John 3:8) live by. Ruah and pneuma both mean “wind or breath”. So let us run on the breath of the Spirit within. 

It took Jesus’ death on the cross to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham: “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). As Paul assured the Galatians, that was the promise of the Spirit to all people of faith (Galatians 3:14). Once born of the Spirit then, we live by the Spirit to keep in step with the Spirit.  

Uphill, the race is never easy; I am winded. In step with the Spirit I find the reserves of air I need to reach the summit, to run the good race.  

Nancy P