“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” – Galatians 5:17
This is a fundamental truth that every follower of Jesus must understand about himself or herself. You can’t sit on the fence indulging the desires of the flesh (temper, addiction, lust, envy, pride, etc.) and also grow spiritually. The desires of the flesh want to dominate you and will quench the Spirit’s power and work within you. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit desires to fully transform you into the image of Jesus Christ if you will let Him. That only happens by rejecting the desires of the flesh in your life.
Within the life of every believer, this will be a battle that must be fought. If it isn’t, then the desires of the flesh win by default and nothing of great spiritual significance is accomplished in our heart. We must fight the battle to crucify the desires of the flesh and walk in step with the Spirit. As we do, this battle becomes easier and yet, we must always remain vigilant. Even when we think we’ve moved past the battle, the flesh likes to sneak back in.
Take time to consider how you spend your time and money. Think about what you think about. Does your flesh, your earthly life and enjoyment win the majority of your time, attention, and resources? Or do the things of God and the quiet work of the Holy Spirit prevail? Choose the Spirit! #FollowJesus