Time with God - June 21, 2011

Galatians 5:16

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (vv. 16-17)

Keep your relationship with the Holy Spirit healthy and you'll find godliness to be the natural outflow of your life!

You feel the conflict in your life, don't you? God's Holy Spirit and your sinful nature "are in opposition to one another", and this causes conflict within you. You're used to following your sinful, fallen human nature. God's in the process of restoring your fallenness, of renewing His image in you.

But that renewal is nowhere near finished yet! So He's put His Holy Spirit within you to enable you to live in a way that honors Him. You can choose to live "by the Spirit" or by yourself.

Living by the Spirit means being responsive to His initiatives in your life. When He convicts you to stop doing what you are doing, you stop. When He puts it on your heart to pray for someone, you pray for them. When He speaks to you from His Word, you follow His lead. Then His power will flow in your life.

God's inviting you to live a new way today—"by the Spirit". 

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