Walk By The Spirit

Galatians 5:16-17 “I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.” ~CSB

This past weekend I attended a function for the 4th of July weekend.  Like most functions they had plenty of food, fun, family, and friends.  Now what function wouldn’t be complete without everyone’s favorite beverages. 

Alcohol always enhances the mood and adds flavor to the party. But the world is full of individuals, like me, that have a problem controlling how much we drink. Events like these can be so tempting, but on my journey, I learned to ‘…walk by the Spirit…’. In this walk, I am able to see alcohol, smell alcohol on the breath of others and refuse it when offered. 

Walking in the spirit has allowed me to live without ‘craving' it.  I was able to enjoy my time with family and friends without the unneeded desire to go against my Spirit. You must know that I did not get this way under my own doing. I am so grateful to God because He has not only healed me, but He has trained me to ‘walk by the Spirit’.  He gave me, as a gift, the Holy Spirit!

It is that Spirit that allows me to stay opposed to the same things It is opposed to. My vice, my shackles, that addiction I had, was the ‘favor of the flesh’. The scriptures continue in verse 17 and shows you that both oppose each other.  The purpose of this is so that you don’t do what you want to do. 

For example, when I was under the influence.  I remember waking up the next morning with a hangover, and saying to myself over and over again, “I need to stop all this drinking.”  But the flesh was stronger. And in its opposition to the Spirit, what I wanted, I was not strong enough, spiritually, to accomplish.

Only God can reverse that condition. Only God can give you to power to tame the flesh. God stepped in and took that craving away from me. Then He blessed me with a ‘band aid’ to help my wound of destruction heal in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Because of the Holy Spirit, my Spirit became stronger than my flesh. Now, my flesh, couldn’t do what ‘it’ wanted to do. In other words, don’t feel bad when you still have little desires that enter your mind after you have been saved. It is not you, it’s your flesh.  

Now your flesh is being overpowered by your Spirit. It is now a little easier to resist the flesh and walk in the Spirit. I am here to tell you that I am a witness that God can heal you to the point from where you could not do without, to a place where now you have no need for it. That is God!

Walking in the Spirit is having a strong relationship with the Lord.  And that relationship comes from reading His word daily, (like you are doing with this devotion), for guidance, healing and strength. “…Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

May God continue to bless you, keep you and guide you on your journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Blessings, 
​Billy

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