Walk Not After The Flesh But After The Spirit

Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1b


The Holy Spirit empowers us with new life. He’s eager to impart wisdom to guide us in everything and, especially, in our relationships. However, without a healthy relationship with God, we’ll find it challenging to build healthy relationships with people. When our hearts are not aligned with the Holy Spirit, our efforts won’t reflect God’s wisdom and strength. We’ll respond to other people out of the flesh. When we don’t grow in our relationship with God, there will be no profit in our relationship with others.

When we are aware of the things the enemy uses to create offense, jeaslousy, anger or emotional turmoil within us, then we are able to guard ourselves from responding as the world does. We can surrender to the Spirit, crucifying the desires of the flesh and refusing to carry unforgiveness as our hallmark.

We’ve all faced challenges in relationships. Some people bring persistent issues that require attention into a relationship. Others carry emotional and mental wounds from devastating experiences. The world offers numerous reasons to remain offended, wounded, and hurt. Yet, if you’re willing, the love of can God heal your issues and wounds, and He has the power to do so miraculously.

God’s Word—His truth—is an active and living force. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing through the soul and spirit, and separating the joints and marrow. It unveils our deepest thoughts and desires. It ignites faith in God’s eternal truth. Our hope lies in the Word and in the relationship we share with the Lord. Amidst the chaos of filthy, muddy, tangled, and messy emotions, God’s Word stands more powerful than anything else. It reigns supreme. It heals supernaturally.

As a child of God, you possess Christ’s spiritual authority to govern your emotions and reactions. You have His authority to bring your thoughts and the images they evoke under the control of the Holy Spirit. If God’s truth doesn’t permeate you, this authority seems beyond your reach. Instead, you are emotionally wrecked. You heart isn’t in tune with the Lord’s. Your senses declare your pain is simply too overwhelming to bear. However, the truth is that you have the authority to reject your issues and embrace the healing of the Holy Spirit. If God’s Word permeates you, you will receive God’s wisdom to deal with your flesh.

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere” (James 3:17, NLT).

God’s wisdom is pure, full of mercy, and willing to yield to others. However, aren’t we sometimes biased towards our own feelings and desires? God’s wisdom teaches us to be impartial, to prioritize others over ourselves. We have the ability to live peacefully with others and extend kindness towards them. We have the power to relinquish the grip of resentment and hurt. We can earnestly seek God’s wisdom to gain His perspective on an issue, determine the appropriate response, and decide whether an apology is warranted. My friend in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. We can draw from our renewed spirit and demonstrate love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

God desires us to live in agreement with Him. We are called to walk after the Spirit and not our flesh. The Spirit has equipped and empowered us to do this. If we walk after the Spirit, we will remain in the Word, be open to His voice, and be always open to learn from Him.

When you know who you are in Christ, you are in tune with the Father. You never have to let pain or hurt define you. You have nothing to prove to anyone else. You don’t take offense, but allow any offense or emotional pain to roll off you shoulders. You walk after the Spirit and take authority over your emotions. You fulfill the desires of your Savior who brought you into perfect union with the Father.

Is your heart in agreement with the Father? Allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart. Remain in the Word, be open to His voice, and to always learn from Him. There is power in agreement.