Monday, March 17, 2008

Dirt Roads

As a child growing up in the country I spent many days outside playing. Sometimes taking walks on the dirt back roads. Those of you who grew up as I did will recall the feeling of walking on those dusty roads. Sometimes the roads were very rocky and your steps would be uneven and other times the road would be smoother and you would have a rhythmic sound going and you would stay in step. I think our walk with Christ can be the same, sometimes a little jagged and rough and other times you are right in step.

We know we must continually tune in to the voice of the Spirit and follow His lead but how difficult it can be. The Spirit moves us to places where we might not feel comfortable, to step back when we want to go forward and vice versa. Sometimes that rhythm is too slow or too fast. By following the Spirit we have to resist the urge to live life our way and relinquish control.

There are certain situations that it can be so hard to follow the Spirit. It can be so difficult not to follow the popular trend of society and do things that it says is okay to do. When you feel you have been wronged or unappreciated to let go of resentment. When the enemy is perched on your shoulder and is chatting in your ear and tries to convince you it is no big deal if you do it this time. You can always make it up later. This causes such a battle between the flesh and Spirit.

We have to come to a point where we need to ask ourselves, "Who am I being led by?" My self, with it emotions, worries, pride, fears, and selfishness? Am I being led by the enemy or am I being lead by the Holy Spirit?

Every time we move with the Spirit we are saying yes to God. We become no longer bound by the wants of our flesh or the dark one whom is perched on our shoulder and promises us such grand things only to crush us. We can choose to be moved by the Spirit.

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law...Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:18,25