DAILY TEXT, Today Saturday, December 28, 2024, Continue to walk according to the spirit and thus you will not fulfill any desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

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Saturday December 28, 2024

Continue to walk according to the spirit and you will not fulfill any desire of the flesh (Gal. 5:16).

Jehovah is generous and gives us holy spirit to help us win in our battle to do what is right. When we study God's Word, we allow that spirit to influence us. We also receive holy spirit when we attend meetings. There we spend time with our brothers, who, like us, are struggling to do well, and that encourages us. (Heb. 10:24, 25; 13:7.) And when we pray to Jehovah from the heart and ask him to help us overcome some weakness, he gives us holy spirit so that we can be strong and continue fighting. Of course, these activities probably won't make bad desires disappear, but they will give us the strength to not let ourselves be carried away by them. When we already have a good routine of spiritual activities, it is very important that we do not lose it and that we continue to nourish correct desires. w23.01 11 paras. 13, 14.

Why is it encouraging to know that wrong desires are common to all people? (See image).

If an incorrect desire is making our lives impossible, let us remember that we are not alone. The Bible says, “No temptation has come before you that is not common to all people” (1 Cor. 10:13a). Another version translates this verse this way: “You have only had the same temptations as everyone else.” These words were addressed to the Christians of the city of Corinth. Some of them had been adulterers, homosexuals, and drunks (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Does it seem to us that they did not have to fight against any evil desires after they were baptized? It is very unlikely. It is true that they were all anointed, but they were still imperfect. So they sure had to fight some wrong desire from time to time. That should encourage us, because it shows us that others have already gone through the same thing as us and have won the battle. Therefore, we can “stand firm in faith, knowing that all the brotherhood in the world are undergoing the same sufferings” (1 Pet. 5:9).

What trap should we not fall into, and why?

We must not think that no one can understand the weakness we have. That's a trap. Thinking like this can lead us to believe that our situation has no remedy and that we cannot overcome that weakness. But the Bible says the opposite: “God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when temptation comes, he will also give you a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13b ). So, no matter how intense a desire, we can be faithful to Jehovah. With your help, we will not get carried away by that desire.

Although it is inevitable to have incorrect desires, what can we do?

Let us always remember that due to imperfection it is inevitable that we will have incorrect desires. When that happens, let us firmly reject them, as Joseph did when he fled from Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:12). We do not have to be slaves to bad desires.

What questions will help us continue renewing our minds?

If we want to renew our minds, we must continue to strive to make our way of thinking and acting pleasing to Jehovah. That is why we must analyze ourselves frequently and ask ourselves: “Do my actions demonstrate that I am aware that we are very close to the end? Do I continue cultivating the new personality? Do I allow the spirit of Jehovah to guide me so that I do not allow myself to be carried away by evil desires?”

When doing this analysis, let's look at our progress and not expect perfection. If we see that we have to improve on something, let's not get discouraged. Rather, let us follow the advice of Philippians 3:16: “No matter how far we have progressed, let us continue to walk correctly along that same path.” If we do so, Jehovah will bless our efforts to continue renewing our minds.

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