8 Benefits of Walking by the Holy Spirit
As a chosen one, here are the benefits you experience as you walk by the Spirit.
The Spirit is your guide on the path of life.
John 16:13 says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
The Spirit gives you strength to live righteously.
With God’s Spirit leading our lives, we have power over our flesh (Gal. 3:13; 5:25), and the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16), which all act against God’s plan for our lives.
As we are filled with the Spirit and walk with Him, God says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezek. 36:26–27).
He also helps us find a way out of temptation and circumstances that could compromise our right standing with Him (1 Cor. 10:13).
The Spirit teaches you.
Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).
The Holy Spirit helps us understand Scripture. He gives us revelation on certain truths, principles, and realities so that we can discern the will of God and make wise decisions. He is sometimes referred to as the Spirit of truth who testifies of Jesus Christ (John 15:26). Truth illuminates dark places and error. The Holy Spirit teaches us the difference between truth and error and helps us to maintain faith in the Person of Christ.
The Spirit is your prayer partner.
Romans 8:26–27 says, “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The Spirit comforts you.
In the Amplified Version of the Bible (Classic Edition), the Holy Spirit is called the “Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby).”
The Spirit keeps life exciting.
You never know what doors the Holy Spirit will open for you or the reasons why He led you through certain experiences until one day you are called forward to minister, serve, or lead out of those experiences. The Bible tells us about Paul (2 Cor. 12:1–5), Philip (Acts 8:26–40), John (Rev. 4:1–6), and others who were caught up by the Spirit and carried to another geographic location.
I know modern-day prophets who experience this now, in dreams or visions and in physical reality. Not knowing where God will lead from one moment to the next is exciting for His chosen ones. Their lives are submitted to His will. Their hearts remain ever ready, saying “Send me, Lord, and I will go.”
The Spirit gives you the anointing to function in certain gifts.
The Spirit gives to believers these “gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit” (v. 4, AMPC). These gifts allow us to help each other beyond our simple human ability (v. 7, NLT). When the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, people are blessed, healed, delivered, and given revelation and clarity for their lives. Some people are saved because of witnessing the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.
The Spirit is a helper.
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. There are times when we may pray and pray about something and not see it manifest in the time we think it should.
Hannah’s hope for a son was deferred. Her heart was sick. Some have said that when she went to the temple and prayed so fervently she drew the attention of the priest—who thought she was drunk—she was praying in the Spirit in an unknown tongue.
We could argue about whether the Holy Spirit was available at that time in that way, or we can see that God sent His Spirit to help her in her weakness. Though Hannah knew who to take her petitions to and may have known that having a son was God’s will for her life, she still did not have what she hoped for. However, she remained steadfast in hoping for what she did not see, and the Holy Spirit strengthened her.
Where we are weak concerning our hope and faith toward the promises of God that have yet to manifest in our lives, the Holy Spirit helps us. He restores our souls and helps us wait with patience.
Michelle McClain-Walters is the author of Chosen: Appointed for Favor, Destined for Greatness (Charisma House, 2019). She has traveled to more than fifty nations and has conducted schools of the prophet that have activated thousands in the art of hearing the voice of God. She is the author of The Prophetic Advantage and five books about biblical women of influence, including The Esther Anointing and The Deborah Anointing. For many years she served as director of prayer ministry on the staff of Crusaders Church under the leadership of Apostle John Eckhardt. She was also one of the house prophets and apostolic team leaders at Crusaders Church. She and her husband, Floyd Walters Jr., currently reside in Orlando, Florida.
This article was originally published September 2019.
