Keeping in Step with the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 (NIV)
¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

There is a constant war in our hearts between the Spirit, who indwells or lives in every believer in Christ, and the old desires of our sinful nature.  Being a Christian does not mean that our sinful nature has been totally eradicated.  In Christ our sins have been forgiven, having been justified by faith.  But our sinful nature still exists.  That's why by God's grace He indwells us, through the third person of the Trinity - the Holy Spirit.  We become a temple of the Holy Spirit.  And His work is to remind us of the teachings of Christ, guide us through His Word, and empower us so that we may overcome the battles we have against our flesh.
One of the first evidences that we have truly been born again is the realization of the acts of the flesh, and the working of the Spirit in us.  This is found also in Galatians 5:
Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)
¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This is when the warfare begins.  As we live by the Spirit, surrendering to what He is working in us, bringing out His fruit in our lives, we crucify or put to death the acts of our flesh, or sinful nature, that still lingers in us.  This is a day by day, minute by minute, even moment by moment act of warfare.  Any slight detour from our awareness of the working of the Spirit gives our flesh the chance to come out of its shell, and pop up its ugly head in our lives.

That's why Paul encourages us - ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Keep in step.  This reminds me of my ROTC days in college where, as reserve soldiers in training, we were to march in cadence with the command of the officer - left, right, left.  All soldiers would walk in unison with the shout of the commanding officer, and we would walk in step with him.
That's what it means to keep in step with the Spirit.  Everyday, every moment, the Spirit is moving in our hearts, teaching us, guiding us, empowering us, to obey His working in us.  Everytime we take a wrong step, every time we do not keep in step with the Spirit, the opportunity for our sinful nature to come out increases.

Listen to the Spirit's marching commands every moment.  At the beginning of the day He may be calling you to pray, to read God's Word, worship and meditate.  And then as you go through the day He will always be there to guide you to live the right life, say the right words, react to various situations and circumstances.  He will keep you away from temptation, strengthen you when you are in the midst of it.  He will bring righteousness, moving us to obey His every Word.