The Fiercest Battle
The fiercest and the most important battle that you must win is the one currently ongoing within you. It's a battle between the flesh and the spirit.
"For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17)
It's a war for mastery and control. Whichever force that grows stronger within you, whether the flesh or the spirit, will dominate your life. When the flesh wins, the manifestations of the sinful nature will begin to surface in your life. Paul enumerates the acts of the flesh from verses 19 through 21.
Similarly, a Spirit-led life bears the fruit of the Spirit which are also listed from verses 22 through 23. The next verse then says:
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)
In other words, those who belong to Christ have won the war against the flesh and have practically put to death the passions and desires thereof.
This crucifixion of the flesh doesn't happen once and for all. It's a daily continuous victory through the constant feeding of the spirit and starving of the flesh.
We must constantly and intentionally engage in activities that feed our spirit and shun those that feed the desires of the flesh and we are bound to win the battle within.
Remain inspired!
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