I’m a list maker. I need them to clarify my thoughts, and my brain works best when I put pen to paper. There are the staples—Christmas lists, to-do lists, and grocery lists—but I also keep lists of the national parks we’ve visited (Glacier really is the crown of the continent), my favorite things about my good dog (that fuzzy pink nose), and foods I never, ever want to eat again. (I’m looking at you, Hot Pockets.)
Lists are a helpful way to show us all the angles of an idea. One word says a lot, but seven pointing to the same big idea really leave no room for confusion. In this passage, Paul gives us two lists: a list of death and a list of life—the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19–23). And boy, do I love the look of that “fruit of the spirit” list. I want that list to be the accounting of my days.
But life is busy and complicated, and we often find ourselves shifting back and forth between these two lists. How do we find victory over sin that ultimately only leads to death? Paul very succinctly declared that the only means by which we may find victory over sin is to “walk by the Spirit and [we] will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh” (v.16). Notice Paul didn’t say we might not succumb to our flesh; he said we will certainly not—what a declaration!
Our flesh wars with the Spirit (James 1:14–15). This is a powerful image! And still, we’re not expected to walk out our faith journey alone; instead, we must learn to yield to the Holy Spirit. In daily life, our heart’s proclivities lead us away from the Word and drown out the voice of the Spirit; it’s easier to listen to our senses, our circumstances, and our vain desires. Our inattention to the Spirit causes us to fall out of step with Him. Paul encourages us in this manner: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
Daily, hourly, we are to fix our attention on the Word, hide it in our hearts, and yield our desires to Christ—not by our own strength but by yielding to the Spirit within us. And here’s the good news: God calls us to live in the Spirit that He has already given, “for [we] are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from [ourselves]; it is God’s gift” (Ephesians 2:8). Though the world, the flesh, and the devil continually vie for our attention, God has extended to our very lips “the spring of the water of life” (Revelation 21:6). Drink freely. Drink deeply. Drink continually. This is all God’s work; a life in step with the Spirit grows out of the Spirit of adoption that we have already received by grace.
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53 thoughts on "The Spirit Versus the Flesh"
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Sometimes I’m just like Paul when he wrote, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15.
The past decade or so has been extremely tough for me. My mother passed away in 2012. Both of my sisters passed away in 2016. My father passed away in 2021. Then my husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. I’m not gonna lie and say I have fought a good fight because I haven’t. I was often overcome with grief, fear and anxiety leaving me weak and my defenses down. The enemy took advantage of that and threw every past temptation of my flesh at me. I have never doubted my salvation while going through this long season, and I have continuously have felt Jesus there with me just waiting for me to give it all over to Him once again just like I did when I first was saved. The last couple of months I have been a healing time for me. A good friend of mine told me during one of my dark moments told me to stay in God’s Word even when we’re empty. So I have tried to faithfully stay in His Word since and I am slowly feeling alive again! Galations 5:16-17 really hit home with me regarding me struggling to walk by the Spirit. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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.”
Thank you Father for your Holy Word; and for your promise Jesus, that You will never leave us or forsake us.
Father fill me with the Spirit afresh! In Jesus name, Amen
Good evening shes,
A few things stood out to me today:
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1-“the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and vice versa, and you CANNOT do the things that you would”, there are times that I wanted to pray over the meals, but afraid the in-laws might roll their eyes and go tell their friends behind my back that I am so pious. Now the work of the flesh manifest, including my own flesh which is the people pleasing tendency under such circumstance. Which force is stronger? My flesh, their flesh, all flesh combined? Lord we repent. May we know He who is in us is STRONGER than he (Satan) in the [in-laws] (fill in your own blanks, that we can do the things that we would.
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2- Prophesy to dead situations. Today I heard the Lord say, prophesy to your DEAD circumstances (dead body, dead bank accounts, dead careers, dead dreams…) and prophesy as we are COMMANDED (not a suggestion, but a command). God commands us to prophesy dear shes. Don’t sit idly by wearing a victimhood mentality. Listen. 4 stages of prophesying according to Ezekiel: identify what’s dead, speak to that dead thing by the Word of the Lord, command the breath of life to come into that thing, command the grave to open to let that thing come out, behold the shaking, command that thing to be filled with God’s Spirit and it shall live. (Ezekiel 37:1-14)…. so I prophesied as I was commanded, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to His bone.
Lifting you up in prayers.
Be blessed dear sisters.
Well worded. Thank you for this!
Ezekiel verses remind me of “Spirit Wind” by Casting Crowns. A beautiful song if you haven’t heard it. My husband just did a mini sermon on the Ezekiel passages at our last CMA meeting.
Elevation Worship has a song titled “Rattle” based on Ezekiel 37. Very powerful!
M
Amen
I’m back after traveling with family. I brought my study book, but time was not my own.
Today’s devo is beautifully written. Walk by the Spirit and we will certainly not carry out the desires of the flesh!
Welcome back, Tracy Gendron..❤️
“If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”! Galatians 5:25
So up on the floor & dance, my sisters!
Dancing with you GWINETH52..❤️
Asking for prayers today in deciding future job opportunities after being home for 18 years with my children and homeschooling them until highschool. Yesterdays devotional has me thinking differently
praying…
Ty Mercy
Praying for clarity for you as you step into your new season..
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If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit (v25). Lord I pray I stay “in step” with you. I confess I often display the works of the flesh listed in v 19 but know my heart desires the things of the list in verses 22-23. Keep me anchored to You Lord! Happy Wednesday ☮️❤️
Allison Bentley I echo your prayer !
Amen!
I pray to walk by the Spirit and not give into the flesh. It’s too easy to try to do it alone, by my might and my power…but it’s His gift, His grace, by His Spirit. Help me God! Help me listen, obey and walk in Your love and life!
I struggle with trusting that I’ve been forgiven. I read it, I hear it and yet question my worthiness. I definitely fall short on living out some of the fruits of the spirit. Some seem easy to follow and live and others I see-saw. Holy Spirit open my eyes, ears and heart this day.
Donna. I do not know what sin you struggle with on forgiveness, but I just wanted you to know that I too struggled with this same issue years ago. I had committed a sin or a series of sins if you will that left me feeling dirty and ashamed. It was a very low time in my life and I thought, “How can God forgive me? How can He hear me or look upon me because I’m so dirty?” That led me to fervently searching in my Bible and searching for the answers to my questions. The Holy Spirit led me to Psalm 51. David had committed murder and adultery. He coveted another man’s wife, took her and lay with her, and then had him murdered so that she could belong to him. Psalm 51 was David’s prayer for forgiveness. When I found this Psalm I prayed it over and over and over until I believed that I had been forgiven. I knew He forgave me just like He forgave David of his sins. If you read Psalm 86 after you read Psalm 51 you will see where David is still praying to God because he still has struggles but this time he has a peace in knowing he is forgiven. I hope this helps you. I pray that as you continue to search God’s Word that you too will find peace like David!
Revelation 21:7
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and He shall He my son.”
Just think about that. We inherit all things – all things! We are joined with Christ TODAY as one and this is our inheritance – all He has! That’s crazy. I know this truth already, but thinking about literally being next to Jesus in the new heavens/earth possessing all His things as His family member is crazy to sit with… ❤️ *mind blown emoji* lol
Thank you Jesus!
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I am very encouraged this morning with the fact that God can bring life to the dead places in our lives. I have places where it seems hope is lost or “dead”, places where there is no life, places I’ve given up on, places where there is loss and grief. But after reading today’s scriptures, I see that God will bring LIFE once again to those places.
Amen, Kris ❤️
Thank you. This encouraged me.
This was encouraging; thank you Kris!
Kris, the way I have been feeling recently, I am encouraged by your words..
Thank you..❤️
I have to say I am troubled with a few days of strife with my husband. I don’t want strife, it is not my nature, but I do get fed up with certain attacks and provoking and then finally just want to ignore it/him. I don’t want “my heart to be troubled” and to have strife in my relationship but it seems to be on “repeat” cycle for years now. It is tiring. I feel like I am flying high on God’s truth and love everywhere EXCEPT in my own home. :/
Praying for you Rhonda J. ❤️
Thanks Sue (heart!)
I must also say reading about the dry bones always brings to mind the song “RATTLE” by Elevation Worship! So Good! I still crank it up in my car by CD! lol.
Rhonda, I get what you’re saying. Since I retired and my husband and I are both home together, we have been having more disagreements and usually over the same things. I’ve been praying about it and I’ve realized it’s nothing new but when worked we were too tired to disagree. I can see with prayer and God’s help, the Lord is using us to refine each other. I see my husband changing and myself. The Lord is breathing on our dry bones and bringing them back to life. Praying for you both!
Hi Rhonda J. I completely understand where you are coming from. So many things are good in my life and I see God moving in so many ways in my family, but our marriage has been a struggle, and it didn’t seem like anything would ever change…until yesterday. I am believing that God is moving and healing. It’s painful right now and although (I promise I am not being cruel or conceited here) my husband is the one who has to make some major changes, I have had to speak to God honestly about helping me to drop the bitterness I feel toward him for all that he has put me through. And the doubt I feel that this time it will really happen. I am struggling. So I feel you, sister. I believe with my whole heart that God put my husband and I together many years ago, and so I know He cares about our relationship. But it is so hard. And honestly confusing. I understand and I will continue to remember you in prayer. Sending love.
praying for you and your marriage.
I’m sorry for your troubles Rhonda.. praying peace reigns enough to get to the bottom of the ‘strifing ‘ and for a resolve to this sadness, real sooooooooooooon.
Lifting your saddened heart to the Lord, dear friend. ❤️
Good morning ladies, thankful for mercies that are new every morning and God’s faithful love!! The first days of school have gone really well so far. I’ve just been praying I have a “better” year this year. Would also love your prayers as I wrestle with whether my guy friend likes me or my other friend…trying to fight feelings of envy/entitlement, but it is hard, because I really like him for his character and his heart for the Lord. But, God is God and I am not. Praying things would be made clear soon, but in the meantime I’m thankful to be friends. My guy friend invited me and some others friends to go kayaking this weekend, so that should be fun. Thank you all for your prayers!
I am getting impatient with you Sarah!! lol This guys needs to get moving, haha.
No, it’s funny cause there IS someone just perfect from God for you, whether it is him or someone else right in front of you or around the corner!!
I am sure this will be a great year! It is certainly better than the job you had before teaching right?!
Kris, the way I have been feeling recently, I am encouraged by your words..
Thank you..❤️
Sarah D.. Galatians 5:16 I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives(life) and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.
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I repeat this to you because I wonder what your intentions are in this situation..
At this moment in time looking at the Fruit of the Spirit..
But the Spirit produces
LOVE, do you feel it.? Or is this a want?
JOY. Are you joy-filled in this scenario you find yourself in? I get the impression you are not, as you are often sad.
PEACE, do you have peace of heart, when in this ‘friends’ presence, or are you on tenterhooks worrying about who he likes?
PATIENCE, if any of the above are positive thoughts, then please be patient, things will work out as they should.
KINDNESS, are you being kind to yourself? Others when this ‘friend’ is on your mind or in his presence? GOODNESS, do you feel the goodness of God around and in you, or us it turmoil constantly?
FAITHFULNESS, are you still trusting God? Is your devotion to Him still true, in this situation?
HUMILITY, are you humbled in your thoughts and actions around him( your friend)?
SELF-CONTROL. These feelings you have( for him, around him, away from him), are they worldly? Godly? Peer pressure?
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It’s 4 in the morning, forgive me, I worry for you, that a lot of your energy is being used worrying? Second guessing. Over thinking.
I hope I haven’t stepped out of line here, not intended, believe me, I just wonder whether this is of God? It’s been going on for a while now and now, into the new season..
Praying you find peace in your heart. in this, and a resolution, as another year of does he doesn’t he would be sad for you..
Sorry if I have gone on..
Tina.
Thank you all for your prayers yesterday. Late last night, we received word that Jarod was found after six long days. God is so good! Please pray that he receives the help he needs and for God’s peace for him and his family.
That’s good news, Amen!
Praise God!!
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So many tears this morning, sisters, from the overwhelming power of our Almighty God in bringing those dry bones to life … to the overwhelming promises in Revelation 21, especially vs 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain …
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Especially ‘no more pain’ – even though I am dealing with a lot of physical pain these days (as many of us are, like RHONDA J ❤️), it is the pain of heartache and heartbreak that hurts even more as we mourn sickness and loss, as we pray for our loved ones who aren’t following Jesus, as we pray/beg/plead to know the Lord’s will for countless situations, as we long for things that our hearts cry out for.
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Lord, we thank You.
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TINA ❤️❤️❤️ praying, sister!
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So many good comments and insights yesterday, sisters, thank you ❤️
Yes…Searching! I love the thoughts of being made new and whole one day..with NO MORE pain. It has been my sidekick for 20 years 20 plus years..really my whole life. I started wearing casts and braces since 6 years old. But yet..I walk and do more than many, many people, so I count my blessings, and praying for your pain! Just this morning I pulled my arm funny as it was trapped when I woke up and must have misplaced a rib! Ouch. Hopefully it goes back into place soon. It seems to ALWAYS be something with me…! :) Thanks for your prayers!!
Praying over you dear sister, may the tears be turned into joyous praise…some day. Our God is able, even though we don’t see. The hardened hearts can be changed into hearts of flesh and compassion. May it be done. May He grant us our heart’s desires when we pray according to His will, that none shall be lost but turn around from their wicked ways and gain salvation.
Searching, ohh we are but dry bones..
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BUT GOD..
He can Restore us. He can Renew us. Revive us. Refresh us. Re-align us. Redeem us..
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I am sorry for your continuous pain dear Searching, praying to the Great Physician to bring healing in the name of Jesus..Amen..
Love you more..❤️
(Can’t sleep..Grrrrrrrr)lol.
From the Faithlife Study Bbible:
“The phrase “fruit of the Spirit” in this context refers not to “spiritual fruit,” but to “fruit that the Spirit produces.” This latter translation best supports Paul’s argument that the production of godliness in the life of the believer does not require the law; it is empowered by God’s Spirit.”
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From the time we said “yes” to Jesus and received the Spirit, these characteristics are within. One fruit with nine manifestations. They are all there, all the time when we let the Spirit lead us.
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CAT-TEE – any word on Jared?
Thank you for this clarification ❤️
thanks Kelly for the fruit explanation, thats why there is only one fruit but 12 attributes from one fruit, and not 12 fruits.
So good.
Thankbyou Kelly.
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