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Walk in the Spirit

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:16-18


I am trying to read a chapter of the Bible with my daughter every day, and spend some time in the Word myself while she is napping. The distractions are manifold. I don't do a perfect job. I have noticed that it does make a difference, though. The weeks when I am consistently reading the Bible myself, I find I struggle less with food choices. It is still difficult some days. Studying my Bible is not a magic bullet to make all of the temptation go away. But consistency seems to be the key. Being consistently in the Scripture means I am more motivated and focused to battle my temptation or ignore it completely.


I am grateful for the aid of the Spirit in battling my flesh. The flesh feels like such a tyrant. As Paul says, “you do not do the things that you wish.” Many, many times I look back at my days and wonder why I made the choices I did. Why didn't I stop and think before I acted? I didn't actually want that food! I would have been better off without it.


But if I am filled with the Word, and not my own thoughts, it becomes an easier battle to fight. I am not alone with my thoughts and feelings. I have a higher standard, and a Helper. When I am walking in the Spirit, I know what is required of me. I know  I must choose to be disciplined and obey the Word of God. I know that the chip aisle, the dessert table, and the coffee shop are perhaps permissible, but not helpful for me, at this time. My flesh may be screaming for some chemical high, but the Spirit in me helps me to know that I can and should walk away.


I still fail frequently. I am a work in progress. But this I know: with the help of the Holy Spirit, through prayer and reading the Holy Scripture, I can more easily face the difficulties of the day. They might be food or entertainment or difficult children or many other things. But equipped with the Word of God and His Helper, I “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
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