It is the age-old battle. Do I try to do this life on my own, or do I allow God to reign in my life and lead my steps. The battle rages daily and some days the Lord wins, while on the other days, sadly we both lose. See, when one is running independent of God, like any wayward child, the pain of bad choices is felt very heavily by the Father.
It is obvious when we are walking with God. Our life shows certain traits. The Fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Each of the traits are counter to the culture’s leanings. Everything in our culture says look out for yourself, that does not lend itself to love, or joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness or self-control.
So, as we walk with God, He provides the guidance and the strength to step outside the culture and live selfless lives. The crazy part of it is when one allows the spirit to control his/her life, the selflessness, the God-centered mindset brings a quality of life and richness that the worldly life will never provide. For the next several days, we are going to look at the fruit of the spirit. How each particular manifestation provides a different context to his life. For now, it is simply a matter of trust that allows the spirit to work in our lives. As we see these fruit in our lives, it will give us more confidence that Christ does provide a full and meaningful life.
God Bless You
13 You, my brothers, and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Walking With God 