Paul writes in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (ESV). Paul uses a form of the word translated “walk” that carries a continual sense with it, like “be walking by the Spirit.” That means that there is never a time during our waking hours when we are not to be living under the control of the Holy Spirit. We are always to be “filled” with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). We are to be living a Spirit-filled life even in the mundane! Even when staining a deck, mowing a lawn, paying bills, or grocery shopping, we desperately need to allow the Holy Spirit to control us. If the Spirit is not in control, our sinful flesh (i.e., that drive within us to live for self) will be in control. The Christian life is not just lived in times of prayer and Bible study. The Christian life is lived in the mundane. How? Confess our sin. Align our lives with the Bible. Depend on the Holy Spirit: “Father, please control me by Your Spirit today!”