Daily Devotional

Galatians 5:13 You were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another.
vs. 16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh.
vs. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit, let us also be guided.

The good news is that the corrupt nature which remains in us shall not have dominion over us. But there should be a desire after holiness.

The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature, which we are to do, are named in verse 22
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit, let us also be guided. (vs 25)
In my search for joy and happiness, I will add that the fruit of the Spirit will make me agreeable and happy if I cherish and cultivate them.

Romans 6:12 Don't let sin rule your mortal bodie so that you obey their desires. Stop offering the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have been brought from death to life and the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under Law but under grace.

So, I may be saved, but I must be careful to resist the sins that are not entirely rooted out in this life and strive through Divine grace so that they will not prevail in my mortal state.

Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To focus our minds on human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace.
vs. 8 Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.

What is the principle of my walk: the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace?
By the Spirit, the Law of love is written upon my heart, and though I do not fulfill the righteousness of the Law, yet, bless be to God, it is fulfilled in me.

Seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.

John 14:16 I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor recognizes Him. But you recognize Him because He lives (abides) with you and will be in you.

The Holy Spirit's help is not transient, offered for only a short time, but is available forever.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Abiding with the Spirit means you are involved with Him all the time. Bring the Spirit of God to bear in all we do.
Consider Him a constant friend and companion who is always at hand to talk with, ask of, and hear from. If we intentionally abide with Him, we are serious about His work in all life circumstances.

Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh.

Prioritize your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Abide in Him, and He will provide you with strength while enhancing your motivation and desire to persevere. Move toward the Spirit and observe the wonders He can achieve.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, each of us, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He didn't open His mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. From detention and judgment, He was taken away, and who can even think about His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living,
He was stricken for the transgression of my people. Then they made His grave with the wicked and with rich people in His death, although He had committed no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

These verses account for Jesus Christ's sufferings and the design of His sufferings. It was for our sins and in our stead that our Lord Jesus suffered.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Sinners have their vices, their evil way, of which they love. Our sins deserve all griefs and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side. He was delivered to death for our offenses. Through His sufferings, He obtained for us the Spirit and grace of God to subdue our corruptions, which are the ailments of our souls. We can endure our lighter sufferings if He has taught us to value all things as loss for Him and to love Him who first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

The Prophet Isaiah gives a graphic written portrait of the suffering Savior. He tells us of the glorious work He was to undertake so that the sin question might be settled forever to the perfect satisfaction of God. This prophecy of the Messiah, written seven hundred years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, is referred to many times in the New Testament and is applied directly to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "It was He who took our illnesses away and removed our diseases."

Acts 8:32-35 This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: "Like a sheep He was led away to be slaughtered, and like a lamb is silent before its shearer, so He does not open His mouth. In His humiliation, justice was denied Him. Who can describe His descendants? For His life is taken away from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "I ask you, who is the prophet talking about? Himself? or someone else?" Then Philip began to speak, and, based on this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus.

1 Peter 2:21-25 This is what you were called to do because The Messiah also suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in His steps. He never sinned, and He never told a lie. When He was insulted, He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He did not threaten. It was His habit to commit the matter to the one who judges fairly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to those sins and live righteously. By His wounds, you have been healed. You were like sheep that kept going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.

1 Corinthians 15:58  Be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling int he work of the Lord, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn't wasted.

I am encouraged to remain steadfast in the faith of the gospel that the apostles preached and received. It is important to be unmovable in hope and expectation of the great privilege of being raised incorruptible and immortal. We should also abound in the work of the Lord, always performing His service and obeying His commands. May Christ strengthen our faith and help us grow in it, so that we may experience safety, joy, and triumph.

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you have received the Messiah Jesus the Lord, continue to live dependent on Him. For you have been rooted in Him and are being built up and strengthened in the faith, just as you were taught, while you continue to be thankful.

Live dependent on Him.  You are rooted in Him and built up and strengthened in the faith.    

Depend on God for Wisdom: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him.

Depend on God for Everything - Proverbs 3:5- 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Depend on God for a fortress and deliverer - Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my stronghold in whom I take refuge, my shield, the glory of my salvation, and my high tower.

Depend on God for power, promises, and provision.  Pray and present your requests to God - Philippians 4:6 Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation, let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving.

Depend on God for Guidance -Listen to what God says in His Word - Acts 17:11 These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day, they carefully examined the Scriptures to see those things were so.

Psalm 85:8 Let me listen to what God, the Lord, says; for the Lord will promise peace to His people, to His holy ones; may they not return to foolishness.

Live for the Lord - Romans 12:1 Given God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.

2 Corinthians 12:10: that is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Dwell with God: John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Knowing you have someone to trust and depend on will calm your spirit.

Cast all your cares - personal, family, present, and future, for yourself and others - Cast all your cares on God.

Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.