Galatians 5:16-17 in the New Living Translation perfectly describes the struggle we face every single day:
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
That’s the struggle, isn’t it? It’s a constant battle. That’s why we pray day in and day out, “Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil”
My Mennonite friends prayer that line from the Lord’s Prayer: “Save me from a time of trial and deliver me from the evil one.”
When we ask the Lord to deliver us from the evil one, we can add: “Lord, cause the fruit of your Spirit to ripen in my life … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
This is a battle we fight every day. Don’t give up, friends. It’s left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot … day in, day out.
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9)
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