Walking in the Holy Spirit

Trying to battle sin on our own strength during Lent can leave us exhausted. Remember that righteousness is not from our own efforts, but a fruit that the Spirit produces in us.

From an Africa Study Bible touch point: 

Marius Victorinus (c. AD 300–370) was born in Africa. He became a philosopher and an important teacher of rhetoric in Rome. He wrote:

The essence of living the Christian life is to think according to the Spirit, to live according to the Spirit, to believe according to the Spirit, and to have nothing of the flesh in one’s mind and actions and life. That means that you do not put your hope in the flesh. “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.” If you do so, “you will not be doing what your sinful nature craves… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Today: 

Slowly read again the scripture for today. Take a piece of paper and on one side list the consequences of a sinful nature (verses 19-21) on the other side list the results of a life led by the Holy Spirit (verses 22-23). Prayerfully ask God to show you where you are in your life today. Ask God to help you to produce more and more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.