The Spirit gives us the desire to do what is right and opposes our old sinful desires to do what is wrong. Our job is to follow the Spirit. Imagine a child being taught to paint by her father. Her father wraps his hand around hers, guiding each stroke of the brush. The Spirit is God's guiding hand in our lives. Whenever we want to do the wrong thing or react in the wrong way, the Spirit opposes those wrong desires. And we should be led by the Spirit. Whenever we want to do the right thing, that is the Spirit at work. We should be led by the Spirit even though the sinful nature doesn't like it. When you feel this conflict, go with the Spirit. Walk in step with the Spirit. Follow those Spirit-prompted desires. (52)
This section prompted a few different thoughts:
What a gift the Holy Spirit is to us. If the Holy Spirit does all this in our lives, how blessed we are to have received him. It's good to remember that, for all our discussion of "spiritual gifts," the very presence of the Spirit in us is described as gift (Luke 11:13, Acts 2:38).
Keeping in step with the Spirit is not another task. Even though Chester says, "Our job is to follow the Spirit," this whole chapter has been reminding us not to think of change as something we do by our effort, but something God does in us as we trust him.
Following the Spirit is not automatic. You might think that the presence of the Spirit and his regenerating work in our lives would automatically lead to holy living. In some sense, the fruit of the Spirit is the result of his work in our lives, but Paul has to remind the Galatians (and us) to walk in the Spirit. I like the way Chester put it: "When you feel this conflict [between the Spirit and sinful desires], go with the Spirit." Don't go with your gut, go with the Spirit!
Being intimately acquainted with the Word will help you recognize the promptings of the Spirit. The Spirit of God works through the Word of God, so if you're not sure if you're following your own instincts, desires, or the Spirit, the Scriptures will help you determine this. The Spirit does not contradict the Word.
How can we be more mindful of the Spirit in our daily lives?
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