Walking in the Spirit

"Living by the Spirit brings freedom, peace, and transformation, while living by the flesh leads to destruction and brokenness—it's a daily choice we all must make."

The passage from Galatians 5:16-26 talks about the real struggle we face every day—choosing between our selfish desires and living the way God wants us to. It’s easy to get caught up in what feels good in the moment, like anger, envy, or selfish ambition. But Paul reminds us that living by the flesh only leads to broken relationships and pain. On the other hand, following the Spirit brings love, joy, peace, and all the other qualities that make life full and meaningful.

What’s comforting here is that we don’t have to muster up these qualities on our own. It’s not about trying harder or being better on our own strength. Instead, when we let the Holy Spirit work in us, these fruits—like kindness, patience, and self-control—naturally grow in our lives. It’s part of how God transforms us, bit by bit, through His grace, helping us become more like Christ.

But it’s not a one-time thing. Following the Spirit is a daily choice, sometimes even a moment-by-moment decision. Life throws challenges at us all the time, and we have to decide if we’re going to live by the flesh or let the Spirit guide us. When we choose the Spirit’s way, we experience a deeper sense of freedom and peace, and we become a reflection of God’s love and grace to the world around us.