Training Our Spiritual Senses

To walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16-25), we must first train our minds to discern our spiritual senses. We can do this by learning to focus our attention on our spirit as we go throughout our day. This is not always an effortless process and requires a lifetime commitment to learning and growing in the things of God. This is reiterated in Hebrews 5:14, which says:

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:14 

Here are some Biblical examples we can glean from as we learn to walk in the spirit.

Moses and the burning bush

In the book of Exodus, we read about Moses having a divine encounter with the Angel of the Lord (The pre-incarnate Christ). Moses was tending to be the sheep on the back side of a mountain, when he noticed a burning bush, but unlike other burning bushes he had most likely seen, this one did not incinerate. So, Moses turned to see this great wonder, and when he did, God spoke to him out of the fiery bush

1)  Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2)  And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3)  Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4)  So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (Exodus 3:1-4.)

Paul at Lystra

The next example can be found in the book of Acts and describes Paul preaching in a place called Lystra and locking his eyes on a particular man who had never walked. By so doing, he perceived in his spirit the man had faith to be healed, and he commanded him to stand up on his feet.

And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked. Acts 14:8-10

This miracle would not have happened without Paul’s sensitivity to his spirit and what the Father was showing him about this man’s faith.

Persistence and Determination

Another example is found in the gospel of Luke. It describes a man of short stature doing everything in his power to see Jesus as He passed by.

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. Lk 19:1-6

I believe you can readily see in these three examples, the need for focus and attention to detail was vitally important. None of these incidents or encounters would have happened without the cooperation and focus of the individuals highlighted in each situation.

In a  world filled with myriads of distractions, it can be difficult to cultivate a greater sensitivity to the moving of the Spirit of God, the voice of Jesus, and the revelation of the Father, but to do so is vitally crucial. If we do not grow in spiritual awareness and perception, we may miss out on much of the Father’s plan for our life, and His day-to-day leadings.

Without proper spiritual discernment we may also be seduced and led into deception and temptation. The spirit world is more real than the natural world around us, and learning to be aware of what our spirit is receiving from the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is one of the best things we can do to grow in the knowledge of God and of Christ.

More on this next time. Until then, may God our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless and keep you.

James Brown

CST 11/07/2025