"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17; see also Rom. 7:14–24). How have you, in your own life as a believer, experienced the harsh and painful reality of these words?

In examining my own Christian walk I have had to examine why I find myself struggling with some things that I thought I overcame. In my quest I was led to this passage in Romans 7:14. What I realized is that the struggle is normal but the victory is supernatural. God is the one who empowers us to live holy lives and we have no reason to boast for anything that we have done. If we ever become amnesiatic in our own self-righteousness our humanity reminds of the need of a Savior.

From your own experience of the battle between these two natures, what advice would you give to a Christian who is trying to come to terms with this never-ending struggle with self?

Keep getting up! You may fall and falter in your Christian walk but never forsake the means by which you may obtain victory. Don’t stop praying or reading your bible because you may mess up continue to move forward and trust God in the midst of your mistakes. Everyone has this battle , and the battle is perfectly normal. Continue to look to Jesus the Author and the Finisher of your faith!

Prayer: Father you know the struggle that we have. Please help us to continue to fight the good fight of fail. If we may fall and falter help us to get back in. Thank you, in Jesus name amen.

I want to be victorious in this conflict!

Read Galatians 5:16. What does the concept of "walking" have to do with a life of faith? Deut. 13:4, 5; Rom. 13:13; Eph. 4:1, 17; Col. 1:10.

The concept of walking is about the way you live your life from day to day. Just as with walking one foot goes in front of the other, the measure of christian life is your steps. In order to walk in the Spirit we must seek to follow after God, fear him, listen to His voice, and cling to Him with all our strength.

In what way is Paul's metaphor about walking different from that found in the Old Testament? Compare Exod. 16:4; Lev. 18:4; Jer. 44:23 with Gal. 5:16, 25; Rom. 8:4.

There is no difference in what Paul is saying now and what was required of God’s people then. The Law should not be something which is measured by our outward compliance but our inward adherence. Paul is warning against a rigid observation of the law devoid of God’s Spirit.

What has been your own experience of "walking in the Spirit"? How do you do that? What practices in your life make this kind of walk more difficult?

Walking in the Spirit for me is about being lead by God in my daily life and being attentive to His voice. I believe that being lead by the Spirit is how we pray without ceasing. I get in the way of myself when I want to lead myself rather than follow the leading of God.

Prayer: Father please help us to understand what it means to walk by the Spirit. Help us to be attentive to your voice and please saturate us with the Spirit of obedience. Thank you in Jesus name amen.

I would like to walk in the Spirit