Have you ever seen the cartoon where an angel is on one shoulder, and a demon is on the other? It illustrates the dilemma a person goes through when we have to make a choice. Do we do the right thing or not? That picture is also a perfect analogy of the battle within us. We are to walk in the Spirit, but it wages war with our flesh every day. Are you winning the battle within?
Galatians 5:16
I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Understanding the Battle
The biggest battle for every Christian is not with Satan but with ourselves. It is the struggle between our flesh and our spirit. Our flesh wants to satisfy every desire while our spirit wants to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Our flesh is ugly and selfish while our spirit wants to give and serve. Unfortunately, most of us give into the flesh more than we walk by the Spirit. Thankfully, Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit who can do a work in our heart to change us.
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Walking by the Spirit means that it is all day everyday responsibility. There isn’t a time that we can walk by the Spirit and the rest of the time walk in our flesh. We need to be led by the Spirit on a minute by minute basis. He is our guide as we walk through the pitfalls of life. He illuminates God’s Word to us and convicts us of our sin. Walking in the Spirit is like what athletes call being in the zone.
Winning the Battle Within
How do you win the battle within and walk in the Spirit? First off, you need to surrender your heart to God. This more than forgiveness, it is telling God that he has control over every area of your life. This is more for your benefit than God’s. He doesn’t need your permission, but it is much easier with your participation. Next, you need to fill yourself with the Word of God. The Bible is God’s instruction manual and reading it in conjunction with walking in the Spirit supercharges our faith. Finally, we need to correct our path when we veer off. When we do give into the flesh, we need to be quick to seek forgiveness and restoration. Doing these steps will help you begin the process.
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