Walk by the Spirit by Mayada Naami
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and 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.
(Galatians 5:16-21, NIV)
Jesus is our teacher and counselor and when we receive the Holy Spirit, He enters our heart and renews our mind daily, replacing old thoughts and beliefs with His teachings. My hope, as a follower of Jesus, is that non-believers come to know the peace that comes from walking by the Spirit. When we are reborn in the Spirit, and led by the Spirit, we no longer do whatever we want. We do not gratify the desires of the flesh when it is contrary to the Spirit because we feel conflicted when we do.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NIV).
Jesus tells us we will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The Spirit of God helps us understand the things of God and guides us in making the right decisions. When a believer has this experience, they will connect to God and have a heightened sense of spiritual understanding and will want to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit gives a believer the spiritual supernatural power to resist sin and walk in obedience to God’s command. As the Spirit transforms the believer from the inside, He begins to produce spiritual fruit in the life of the believer.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22, NIV)
Are you walking by the Spirit? Are you seeing the fruits of the Spirit manifesting in your life?
Reflect
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Prayer
Lord, help me to be guided by Your Spirit of Truth. Convict me of any sin and reveal to me any areas that I need to change in my life. Help me to discern truth from lies.