Manna for Your Morning

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. — Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT) The ways of this world and the feelings of our flesh go against God’s ways. The flesh is selfish and wants what it wants, when it wants it, but as children of God, we are not to live our lives in subjection to the world or our flesh. God’s ways are higher than our ways. Let us choose to be led by the Holy Spirit of God. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14 NLT) Going against the Spirit is like trying to walk against the wind. It's hard to go in the direction you want to go. When we walk in the direction of the wind, we find the ...

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. — Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV) In the world, people put themselves first and insist on having things their own way. Selfish ambition and vain conceit are often rewarded. However, in the family of God, we are to follow the ways of our heavenly Father. His ways are higher. In God's house, we humble ourselves and value others, just as Jesus sacrificed His life for us. Let us forget ourselves long enough to lend a helping hand (Philippians 2:4, The Message).

Love... is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. — 1 Corinthians 13:5 (AMP) God’s love in us, is other-focused. Love cares more for others than for self. (1 Corinthians 13:5 , The Message). As imitators of our heavenly Father, let us do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, (Philippians 2:3).