Grace For The Battle

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do (Galatians 5:17).

The flesh—our sinful nature—craves instant gratification. It longs for approval without accountability, freedom without surrender. But life in the Spirit desires godliness. It longs to magnify the glory of the Lord, to find rest in Christ, and to walk in the freedom only He provides.

Have you noticed this battle raging within you? One moment, you’re stirred with deep love for the Lord. The next, you’re tempted by pride, lust, selfishness, or fear. This tension is not accidental—it’s the daily reality of the Christian life. Until glory, we will never be free from this fight. The desires of the flesh are at war with the Spirit.

But here’s the challenge: we must run into the battle, not away from it. There’s no time for retreat or passivity. In Christ, we’ve been set free from slavery to the flesh. And now, by the Spirit, we are empowered to fight and to grow in godliness.

Walking in the Spirit means resting in God’s love, receiving His grace, and being equipped to stand firm. There is true freedom and deep joy in following Jesus, not being mastered by the flesh.

And here’s the beautiful truth: we are not alone. Jesus is with us. He is for us. He has already conquered sin, death, and the grave. He died and rose again to bring us into new life. So moment by moment, we walk with Him. And in the power of the Spirit, we press into the battle—with hope, with joy, and with confidence in the One who has already won.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.