Devotional from Nicole Sitter (3/1)
March 5 Devotional
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Galatians 5:16-26 NIV
Pastor Drew is going to preach on living in the Spirit this week and I can’t wait to hear what God is going to say through him. We live in this broken world where we are in battle. We are the flesh but we desire to be in the Spirit. Aside from the obvious sins that the text refers to we are constantly at battle living out the fruit of the Spirit. I could have been kinder. I could have definitely been more patient. Am I a source of joy to someone? Did I argue with love as my goal? The list could go on for every single fruit.
I’ve been reading through the Old Testament lately and I’m reminded of all the rules that God gave the Israelites regarding how they are to care for the tabernacle and how they are to atone for their sins. In the wilderness God was giving them a way to be close to him. To live with Him. For us Jesus finished that work on the cross and God sent us the Spirit to live in us.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:26-28 NIV
What peace to know that even when we don’t know what to pray for the Spirit intercedes for us. Let me encourage you to consistently walk with the Lord. Be in His word. Be in prayer. Have a relationship, because when you do – those fruits of the Spirit will tend to flow right out of you!