Matching Steps as You Follow God Closely
When you’re trying to be godly, and the word godly really means “like God” or “like Christ,” the very best thing you can do is match his steps.
When you’re trying to be godly, and the word godly really means “like God” or “like Christ,” the very best thing you can do is match his steps.
The fruit of the Spirit is definitely not a list of activities to try to do in your own power. Rather the fruit of the Spirit is simply the natural product of living in tune with, filled with, and in submission to the influence of the Spirit of God, moment by moment.
When you follow Jesus’ example, letting the Holy Spirit guide your thinking, your feelings, and your decisions, you’ll wind up walking in close connection with our supernatural God.
Sin will not conquer you. It doesn’t stand a chance at winning in your life when Jesus Christ is your true King. And you aren’t governed by the impossible-to-keep law that dooms you to fail over and over again.
You can offer your body as an instrument of wickedness, speaking and doing things that are contrary to God’s will. Or you can offer your body as an instrument of righteousness.
If you’re dead to sin, that means it has no power or authority over you. The old you is no longer alive or sensitive to the call and lure of sin. The old you died with Jesus.
You’ll never get anywhere if, having been set free by the power and grace of God, you keep believing that you’re not free. You’ll live down to the level of your lack of faith.
When you feel doubt, move away from your feelings, which can change hour upon hour, and move your faith into the facts of Christianity.
If you struggle with outbursts of anger, it’s almost always because you’ve repressed your emotions. That could be as small as having a bad day and getting really grumpy with your family because of it, or it can be as devastating as repeating generational cycles of physical or emotional abuse.
On a spiritual level, lust and pornography are highly problematic. I believe lust hurts our intimacy with God and with others, steals away our confidence in life and in leadership, and traps us in cycles of self-loathing, shame, and depression.