HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

One of the reasons many people fall when they get older is because they start walking with a “hitch.” Their core strength weakens and they experience problems balancing. Spiritually, when we’re walking right—with a solid, strong core—it’s harder to stumble.

We need to be sure our spiritual core isn’t weakened by beliefs, attitudes and habits that distract from or hinder our walk with God. We must become aware of subtle spiritual impediments and stumbling blocks, and deal with them biblically.

The Bible describes six solid walks that, when proactively utilized, can help us recover from a life of constant stumbling.

1. Walk in the spirit.

We live by the Spirit, and we need to keep in step with Him. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify or indulge in the desires of the flesh. Instead of tripping over enslaving sins, we will walk in freedom in the Holy Spirit. Our lives will reflect the Spirit’s residence within, and we will bear fruit for the Lord.

The Spirit points us to Jesus, and when we abide in Christ, we will want to walk in the same way He walked.

2. Walk in wisdom.

When we hold onto sound wisdom and discretion, our walk will be more secure and we won’t stumble around. We must be careful how we walk, Paul says, and we should pursue the walk of wisdom.

Wisdom’s ways are the True North of our lives. Godly wisdom can lead us in a straight path of righteousness, making it easier to move forward unhampered according to God’s plans.

3. Walk in truth.

We often sing the old hymn that promises: “When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory he sheds on our way.”

We need to walk following God’s instructions—His truth principles and commands in scripture—so we won’t stumble and fall. God’s Word is light for our path. Satan, the worldly culture and our fleshly appetites feed us countless lies, but when we are grounded in the Word, the Lord will sanctify us (set us apart and make us holy), teach us how to walk in truth, and help others walk in truth, too.

Satan says we are defeated, but God’s children know the truth about falling: “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.”

4. Walk as children of light.

We live in a dark world where unbelievers rejoice when Christians mess up. As Christ-followers, we can understand the darkness because we once lived there. We constantly stumbled around in the darkness, unable to walk God’s straight path.

But now, Paul says, we are “light in the Lord.” God expects us to “walk as children of light”—to walk “properly” as in the daytime, knowing God sees us and has designs to make us holy. The world should be able to tell the difference the Gospel has made in our lives. Another way to say this is, we need to “walk in newness of life.”

5. Walk in love.

Walking in the light is tied to walking in love. The early church was known for walking in light and love, and John said those who hate other believers show evidence they’re still walking in darkness.

Jesus commanded us to love others in the same way He has loved us. If we are living out biblical love, we will not stumble into selfishness. John says whoever loves his brothers and sisters in Christ will not have cause for stumbling.

If we “bite and devour” each other, our Christian unity will be destroyed. The truth is, when we walk in love, we will not rejoice when other people stumble and fall—not even our enemies!