So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 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 5:16-17 (NIV)
Spurgeon correctly assesses our plight when he writes: “I cannot with all my longings raise my soul out of her death and dullness, but all things are possible with You. I need heavenly influences, the clear shining’s of Your love, the beams of Your grace, the light of Your countenance - these are as summer suns to me. I suffer greatly from sin and temptation; these are my terrible wintry signs. Lord, work wonders in me, and for me. Amen.” King David adds to this in Psalms 8:3-4 (NIV): “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
Believer, God takes our side in this warfare against sin, self and Satan and He is far greater still. The Holy Spirit within us empowers us to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel. We need not wallow in the pigpen of our own poor choices. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead indwells every believer – giving life to our mortal bodies, Paul tells us in Romans 8:11 (NIV). And who needs more power than that, Amen? Be ready to follow His promptings and leadings in lieu of our own flesh which gets us nowhere fast. When we march under His banner, leadership and power - rather than our own - we become invincible. As we cling to Him, and not to ourselves and our fleshly natures, His right Hand upholds us and sustains us, keeping us from falling. We follow in His footsteps, leaning hard on His everlasting arms rather than our own poor understanding. This is what we all want whether we realize it or not.
We grieve the Holy Spirit by resisting Him and we are left alone in the battle - we certainly do not want to go there. The Holy Spirit empties the soul of pride and empty vanities and fills us with Himself. We are to welcome all His leadings and be obedient to His commands – cherishing every persuasion – as they are always, always for our good and God’s glory never one surpassing the other. This is to have a life well lived and one without regrets BTW. It is taking hold of the life that is truly life and one that God desires for every soul to walk in. Jesus died to make it so.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV)