7 Daily Thoughts for the Everyday Christian

Galatians 5:16–18 ESV

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22–25 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

9 items listed as the fruit of the Spirit

15 items listed as the works of the Flesh

1. Be Prayerful

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

Pursue Living by the Spirit

you must communicate with God

2. Be Reading/ Studying

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Pursue Faithfulness

Avoid Orgies(carousing, merry-making)

3. Be Forgiving

Matthew 18:21 ESV

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

Pursue Humility

Pursue Gentleness

Avoid Fits of Anger(indignation, intense desire) and Envy(ill-will, malice),

works of the flesh that war against Forgiving attitudes.

Avoid Enmity(at feud, hatred), Divisions(religious party, false teaching, sect),

too many people are at war with folks they don’t even know.

4. Be Grateful

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Pursue Joy

we should be more joyful. Joy needs to become more of our first emotion and not later after sadness , etc.

Pursue Kindness

show to others will reflect on your own life. Your mindset will allow you to understand the kindness shown to you, making you grateful.

Avoid Jealousy(eager rivalry, zealous imitation)

which can make you covetous

5. Be Self-Controlled

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Three things to employ to become more Self-Controlled

Pursue Patience

Pursue Humility

Pursue Spirit Led

Avoid Sexual Immorality(unchastity, fornication); Sensuality(self-abandonment, wanton violence, insolence, licentiousness),

Avoid Drunkenness(strong drink),

6. Be Prepared to Help

Titus 3:1 ESV

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Pursue Faithfulness

Avoid Idolatry(idol worship), Sorcery(drugs, potions, spells),

Avoid Rivalries(selfish ambition),

7. Be Loving

Romans 13:8 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Seek Peace

Pursue Agape respond to what people need, not on your bias against them

Avoid Impurity(foulness), Strife (contention,quarrel),

Avoid Dissensions(discord),