Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 88 – Galatians 5:16-18 – Live By The Spirit – Growing As Disciples
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Led By The Spirit
This world is a battle ground. How so? Every day my heart and mind and life are under the constant attack of the thoughts, opinions and values of the world. The world seeks to conform me into its image or fit me into its mold. The world would like me to think and speak and act according to its patterns and practices. What’s wrong with that? The world, the flesh and the devil all stand in opposition to you. I really only have two choices in life. What are those choices? I can either live my life according to the world, the flesh and the devil or I can live my live according to the Spirit. In other words, I can either follow you or be filled with all the fleshly, worldly and evil desires that are in the world. There is no middle ground. Why is that? The battle is intense. No one can win victory over the world without being led by the Spirit. If I were to try, with my own strength, to live in victory over the flesh, the world and the devil, I would fail miserably. That sounds like the voice of experience. Yes, it certainly is the voice of experience. I have had far too many failed experiences trying to live in victory under my own power. That does not work. No, it does not.
What is it that you desire? I desire to be led by the Spirit. That’s good. What has my Holy Spirit led you to do so that you can live a life that is in alignment with my good, perfect and pleasing will? Your Holy Spirit has led me to turn away from my old life. I have put off all the thoughts and opinions and values and practices of my old life. I have repented of my sin. I have asked for your forgiveness. I have received your cleansing. You have filled me with your Holy Spirit. I am now loving, following and serving you as my Savior and Lord. That is very good. What else? The Holy Spirit has led me to meet with you in your word. I have been letting your word dwell in me richly. I have been meditating on your word day and night. With what purpose? You have been using your word to change my heart and transform my mind. You have been helping me to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. The Holy Spirit has been using your word like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me against evil that is in the world. That is very good. What else? The Holy Spirit has led me to put on the new life I have in you. How so? I am listening to your voice. I am going where you guide me. I am doing what you ask of me. I have been allowing you to both give and grant new desires in my heart. What is the strongest desire that you have in your heart? It is the utmost desire of my heart to know and love and follow you. You indeed, are being led by the Spirit. Yes, I am and for that I am very thankful. That is very good.
Holy Spirit, I know that only you can empower me to live in victory over worldly, fleshly and sinful decisions. Take God’s word and use it to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. Lead my life so I can live according to God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. Amen
Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit used God’s word to help you to resist worldly, fleshly and sinful desires?
Living It Out… Seek to live a Holy Spirit led life so you can live out God’s good, pleasing and perfect will.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will lead you in victory over worldly, fleshly and sinful desires.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are seeking to live a Holy Spirit empowered life.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you live by the Spirit so you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.
Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.
By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved Copying not permitted www.GrowingAsDisciples.com
