Galatians 5:16-17 – v16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh v17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Is it possible to live a life that honors God? Is it achievable to train our minds and bodies to do what we know is right—instead of feeling powerless against temptation?
Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia is a guide for such questions: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians 5:16
Without surrendering and submitting to God’s lead, our sinful nature is at war with what God has for us.
Left to ourselves, we crave what the world desires. And the more we give into our unique shades of temptation, the more we crave (like craving sweets for sugar, or craving pornography for dopamine rush). But with the help of the Holy Spirit, who softens, and molds, and reshapes our hearts, we can learn to crave what God deemed best.
And the Holy Spirit just so happens to be God—one of the three persons of the Trinity: The Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus has already done the hard and beautiful work of salvation—by living, dying, and rising again for the sake of His children—but now He wants to continue His mighty work in us and through us.
If it sounds impossible, it is impossible — ONLY if you’re fighting by yourself. But, as Jesus told His disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 NIV) The psalmist also brought another valuable perspective, writing, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalms 119:9 NIV)
When we cling to His Word, the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life that honors Him.
Amen.
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