The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:17 NLT
Sometimes, in the midst of the journey, we can hit a rut, a perceived valley, or a moment when we begin to lose steam. This is when temptations rise to the surface and the enemy of our souls beckons us to return to old proclivities, entertain new sinful practices, and pull away from the progress we’ve already made. It is imperative that we remind ourselves of our “why” during these mental and emotional struggles. We must remember that we belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Belonging to God means that we are free from the grip of sin and shame. It means that we have full access to the privileges reserved for the believer. While this freedom can be exhilarating, we must make a diligent effort to honor God in every decision we make. We must embrace servanthood. This is the key difference between living in true freedom and living in bondage to sin.
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Galatians 5:13 NLT
True freedom encourages us to love others well. Developing a servant’s heart is necessary for us to reflect the goodness of God here on earth. The qualities of servanthood can be found in Scripture. However, in order to better understand Scripture, we need the Spirit of God to help us discern what we read. Through Spirit-led study, we adopt a new course of action and learn to live by a new blueprint.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Practice seeking God through prayer and the reading of His word. Some things can only be discovered once we seek God’s presence in prayer. Similarly, a freed mind can only be maintained by faithful stewardship of Scripture. Meditating on the word of God is how we develop the mind of Christ. Adhering to the word of God is how we make meaningful progress in our faith.
Having the mind of Christ means that we are willing to make hard choices because we understand the weight of the believer’s assignment and are aligned with heaven’s agenda. It makes us overcomers, ones who persevere through every kind of barrier because we know that we will inherit a tremendous blessing (Romans 8:18).
In short, our battle within can only end in victory when we choose to partner with God by obeying His Spirit. We have full access to the truth because we have God’s word. And, we are empowered to continue our faith journey when we maintain open communication with God through prayer. As a bonus, please remember that a life lived for God through Christ is best supported by other believers. So surround yourself with like-minded people who will affirm God’s word and keep Christ at the center of their lives as well.
Until next time,
Live well.
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 NLT
Song Selection(s): Firm Foundation (He Won’t) by Maverick City Music; This I Know by Eris Ford
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