Tag: Walking in the Spirit

January 28, 2025 Devotional Post a Comment

The Open Door

Opening Verse

“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” – Mark 14:38

Introduction

Struggles with the flesh can feel overwhelming. Often, we wonder why sin seems so persistent in our lives. Yet, like leaving a door open on a cold winter day, we allow access for the enemy when we leave the flesh unchecked.

Devotional Story

A man lived in a warm, cozy home. One winter day, he left his front door wide open, inviting the icy wind inside. He shivered and complained about the cold, piling on blankets to stay warm. His neighbor stopped by and asked, “Why don’t you close the door?” The man shrugged, too distracted by his misery to act.

This story is a picture of how we struggle with sin. We battle temptation while leaving the “door” to our flesh wide open—allowing unguarded habits, unchecked desires, and worldly influences to dominate. Instead of closing the door through prayer, discipline, and the Word of God, we cover ourselves with temporary fixes, ignoring the root problem.

What This Means

When we fail to crucify the flesh daily, we give the enemy access to sow chaos. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” This is the key—walking in the Spirit requires vigilance, repentance, and dependence on God’s power.

Think About This

  • Are there “open doors” in your life, allowing the flesh to dominate?
  • How can you intentionally guard your spiritual life today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I confess that I often leave the door open for sin to enter. Forgive me for my carelessness. Teach me to guard my heart and walk in the Spirit daily. Help me to close every door to the enemy and rely on Your strength to overcome the flesh. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25

September 20, 2024 Devotional Post a Comment

Use the Fruits of the Spirit to Combat the Antifruits

Opening Verse

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
— Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Introduction

As followers of Christ, we are given powerful tools to live a life that honors God. These are the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Yet, we are constantly surrounded by forces that work against these virtues—what we could call the antifruits. These could be hatred, anger, anxiety, impatience, cruelty, and many other negative traits. But God’s Word shows us how to resist these and to bear His fruits in every area of life.

Devotional Story

A young man named Daniel faced great temptation at work. His co-workers often gossiped, spreading negativity and harsh judgments about others. This environment pressured him to join in or risk being isolated. At first, Daniel gave in. He found himself making snide remarks about others, losing his sense of peace, and feeling bitterness in his heart.

One day, after a particularly difficult day of falling into this behavior, Daniel felt a conviction in his spirit. He remembered Galatians 5:22-23 and realized he had been feeding the antifruits of envy, anger, and impatience. He knelt in prayer that evening and asked God to fill him with the fruits of the Spirit instead.

From that moment on, Daniel made a conscious effort to replace negativity with love, to spread peace instead of gossip, and to be gentle even in the face of conflict. It wasn’t easy, but as he practiced walking in the Spirit daily, the workplace atmosphere began to change. Others saw his joy, kindness, and patience, and some even followed his example.

What This Means

The fruits of the Spirit are given to us to combat the toxic behaviors and emotions that easily infiltrate our lives. We are called to rise above the antifruits by the power of the Holy Spirit, who transforms us from the inside out. The more we seek to live according to these fruits, the more we can shine as lights in a dark world. Remember, love overcomes hate, joy defeats despair, and patience outlasts anger. When we focus on these fruits, the enemy’s antifruits lose their hold.

Think About This

  • What areas of your life have you seen the antifruits creeping in?
  • How can you practice using the fruits of the Spirit to combat negative emotions or behaviors?
  • Remember that this battle is won by the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you leaning on Him daily?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the fruits of the Spirit. Help us to walk in love, joy, peace, and all the virtues You have given us. Strengthen us to combat the antifruits that try to take root in our hearts. We ask for Your Spirit to guide our thoughts, words, and actions, so that we may reflect Your love and goodness in every situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Verse

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16 (KJV)