Life by the Spirit of God
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatian 5:25
Christians live by the Spirit because the Spirit of God lives within us, while non-Christians live by their fleshly desires. A Christian is born of God when baptized and receive the indwelling Spirit of God, and they are a new creation in Christ.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:6) Since we are created in the image of God, it is natural for us to be governed by the Spirit. Satan tempts us to live by our flesh, but we capture every thought and make it obedient to the Spirit. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8) We can never be pleasing to God unless we do our best to live by the Spirit.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) Through the power of the Spirit we capture every thought and make it obedient to the Spirit, and by controlling our thoughts we rewire our brains from the ways of Satan to the ways of God. As our minds rewire, we become the person God created us to be, and we live life to the full.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) If we live by the flesh Satan will destroy us, but if we live by the Spirit, we will experience life to the full that only comes from knowing Christ. Knowing and being guided by Christ through the Spirit, is the way we are created to live, and it will become natural to us.
The Word of God is the foundation of the Christian life because it is the language of God. Through the Word we are able to be guided by the Spirit and overcome the world. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (John 5:4) Through our faith in Christ, He gives us his divine power to overcome the sinful world.
Today make every effort to live by the Spirit, and overcome Satan’s temptations to live by the flesh. Live in the image of God, because that is the we are created.
Prayer: Lord, help me to live by the Spirit and guide me away from the sinful pattern of this world. In Jesus name, Amen