Self or Spirit Led

Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:13-26

Focus verse: "As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another." Galatians 5:13

Jesus called me to Him.  I began to follow Him and was set free from my sins.  And the Spirit comes into my life and gives me desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.  I find the fruits of the Spirit nature coming in my life.  Sometimes, however, the human nature creeps in and I fail.  This can happen when I am focused on myself, my desires and even if I am focused on my failures.

Though God set me free, in my freedom, I should not give excuses for following my own selfish desires.  My human nature will lie to me and so will the enemy.  My human nature will lead me astray and that way will destroy myself and others.  My human nature will lead me to anger, jealousy, selfish ambition, fighting and separation from other believers.  If I follow my human nature long enough, I can become blinded by it and fall even deeper into sin.  In my pride, I will blame others and make excuses for my decisions and actions.  I may not even see the pit that I am in, until suddenly, I feel lost and God makes it clear through conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

I need to decide every day to focus on the Spirit.  Plan each step with God to walk with Him and allow Him to lead you.  This is what the Spirit produces:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Is this what my life looks like?  You can not follow selfish human desires and the Spirit at the same time.  If you are sensitive to God's Spirit, you will know when you have strayed and can make a correction.

Today is a good day to examine your life.  Do you see the fruits of human nature or the fruits of Spirit nature?  Commit to spend some time in prayer today about anything that you need God to change in your life.  Ask God to open your eyes to see truth.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

~Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Additional scripture:
Matthew 6:24