Living By The Spirit
“Live by the spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.” - Galatians 5:16-17
When you become a Christian, The Holy Spirit lives within you. The way you begin to live at this point changes. You are now obligated to live by the desires of the Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh. This is the major difference between believers and unbelievers, as unbelievers continue to feed their human desires, leading only to their own destruction. However, when you choose the desires of the Spirit, you are choosing God’s very best.
While that decision may sound easy - choosing a path that leads to God’s ultimate blessing versus a path that leads to destruction - the reality is, continually choosing the way of the Spirit is much more difficult than it sounds. You were born with a sinful nature and a desire to feed the hunger of sin.
Paul talks about this in Romans when he says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” This may seem confusing, but all Paul is really saying here is that he chooses to do things he ultimately regrets; these are the decisions that give into his fleshly desires. That is why he says “What I hate, I do.” When he says he does not do the things he wants to do, these are the Spirit’s desires, the things he knows would be best for him, but chooses against because of his sinful nature.
You, like all Christians at times, probably can identify with Paul here. The challenge is to not give into the fleshly desires, to not do what you will eventually realize you hate. Instead, follow the desires of the Spirit because they will lead you to God’s blessing. If you struggle with this, begin each morning in prayer asking God, “Lord will you help me to choose your desires, the desires of the Spirit. Help me to go against my fleshly desires, because I know it is in my best interest.” This prayer might just change everything for you.
When you become a Christian, The Holy Spirit lives within you. The way you begin to live at this point changes. You are now obligated to live by the desires of the Spirit rather than the desires of the flesh. This is the major difference between believers and unbelievers, as unbelievers continue to feed their human desires, leading only to their own destruction. However, when you choose the desires of the Spirit, you are choosing God’s very best.
While that decision may sound easy - choosing a path that leads to God’s ultimate blessing versus a path that leads to destruction - the reality is, continually choosing the way of the Spirit is much more difficult than it sounds. You were born with a sinful nature and a desire to feed the hunger of sin.
Paul talks about this in Romans when he says “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” This may seem confusing, but all Paul is really saying here is that he chooses to do things he ultimately regrets; these are the decisions that give into his fleshly desires. That is why he says “What I hate, I do.” When he says he does not do the things he wants to do, these are the Spirit’s desires, the things he knows would be best for him, but chooses against because of his sinful nature.
You, like all Christians at times, probably can identify with Paul here. The challenge is to not give into the fleshly desires, to not do what you will eventually realize you hate. Instead, follow the desires of the Spirit because they will lead you to God’s blessing. If you struggle with this, begin each morning in prayer asking God, “Lord will you help me to choose your desires, the desires of the Spirit. Help me to go against my fleshly desires, because I know it is in my best interest.” This prayer might just change everything for you.
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