Live the Life of the Spirit

We are called to walk in the Spirit or, as today's verse says, to "live the life of the Spirit."

Making a decision to do this is the starting point, but I can tell you from the Word of God and from experience that it takes more than a decision; it takes a deep work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He "operates" on us with God's Word, which divides soul and spirit (see Hebrews 4:12). He also uses circumstances to train us in stability and walking in love at all times. These things we are called to do are not things that are just given to us; they must be worked in us. Just as leaven or yeast must be worked into dough—so Christ must be worked in us.

In Philippians 2:12 (KJV), the apostle Paul teaches us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That means we are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He begins in us a work of crucifixion or "dying to self." Paul said, I die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV). In other words, he was saying that he was constantly exposed to a "putting to death in the flesh." He was not speaking of physical death, but a death to his own will and ways. If we really want to live the life of the Spirit, we also have to put to death our will and ways and choose God's will. We can count on God to lead us, and we want Him to be able to count on us to obey.

Prayer of the Day: Father God, help me live a life of the Spirit. Help me to make the decision first, then do a work in me that only You can do. And help me to walk through life according to Your will and not my own, amen.