There is a
fine line between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. Our human
soul - our mind, emotions and will - has definite opinions about everything,
and wants to be heard in the midst of our day.
Of course,
this is a very important exercise. We often neglect our body and soul. We push
our body to the limit, ignoring warning signs. We discount the cautions of our
soul.
We grab a
protein bar instead of eating a balanced meal. We fail to exercise, because we
have one more item to accomplish for work. We do not realize that we are full
of destructive negative emotions.
Yet, our
body, soul and spirit work much better when they are all in sync with God's
Spirit. We care for our body, pay attention to the way in which life is
affecting our soul, and we stay in tune to God in our spirit.
God used
the game of Scrabble to give me an object lesson on listening to the Spirit
rather than obeying the thoughts in my mind. God will use something in your life to teach you too.
Rather
than to look for a word I already know, I listen to the Spirit and place the
letters He tells me to use. I learn new words, earn more points and learn to
discern between the voice of God and the voice of my own human reasoning.
When we walk
in the Spirit, we stop making our own plans and trust in the Lord's plans for
our day instead. We stop considering our human reasoning and seek only God's
will for everything that we do and say as we follow His desires (Proverbs
3:5-6).
Walking in
the Spirit allows us to more easily discern His prompting throughout the day. The
voice of our soul eventually dims, and it is easier to hear the direction of
God's Spirit for each moment of our day.
Prayer:
Father
God, You gave us an example of Your love and deliverance by freeing Israel from
Egyptian control. In our similar dire circumstances, You always give us Your
comfort, which increases our joy (Psalm 94:19). When we are overwhelmed by
life's sorrows and fears, You are right there within us.
You care
about Your children who honor and obey You (Psalm 15:19). Our only true joy is
in You, because You give us triumph over life's hurdles as we feast even now on
our inheritance as Your children (Isaiah 58:14).
Thought
for the Day:
When we
walk in the Spirit, we listen for His peace, which surpasses human
understanding; therefore, we have less anxiety, because we pray about each
moment of our day.
- Philippians 4:6
