Works Of The Flesh = Frustration
From my own experience, I found whenever I was overly stressed or frustrated about something in my life, it was usually because I was trying to make something happen my way, and in my timing. I would run ahead of God's leading and direction, TRYING to help God out. (Like He needed my help!)
Galatians 3:3 says, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"
Galatians 5:16 says, "This I say then, walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." It doesn't say conquer the flesh so you can walk in the spirit.
How do we walk in the Spirit?
He leads us by the inward witness.
He leads us by His still small voice.
He leads us by the more authoritative voice of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:16 says "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit..." You will find the primary way that God leads all of His children is by the inward witness - a check, a red light, a stop signal, an inward intuition. Follow that inward witness. Romans 9:1 says "I speak the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit..." The second way that God leads us is by the inward voice. The inward man, who is a spirit man, has a voice - just as the outward man has a voice. We call this voice the still small voice. Your spirit has a voice. Your spirit will speak to you.
Over the years I have had many experiences following the leading of that still small voice on the inside of me. In one instance, it was just a normal day going to the grocery store and I was drawn to this young couple and I kept running into them in the different aisles. As I was going through the checkout line they ended up in front of me. Again, my attention was drawn to them and I wasn't sure why. I carried on and went out to the car and pulled up to get my groceries and this couple ended up in front of me. While sitting in the car, I heard in my spirit, give this couple a certain amount of money. I got out of the car and went to the window side of their car where the lady was sitting. Her husband was picking up the groceries. I knocked on her window and said, "I believe I am to give you this money and let you know that God loves you so much". She received it, and said "thank you"! I went back to my car and while sitting there, I sensed God's presence filling the car like you would fill up a balloon with air. I heard the words, "thank you" from the spirit of God. It was a moment I will never forget, not because of what I did, but because I was privileged to experience the presence of God that day by obeying that still small voice. There is a difference between the inward voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our spirits, and that still small voice which is the voice of our own spirit speaking to us. When the Holy Spirit within you speaks, it is more authoritative. Sometimes it is so real it almost seems to be an audible voice; you may even look around to see who said it. But then you realize it was in you. 1 Samuel 3 - 4-10 says, "The young boy Samuel heard a voice call his name, "Samuel, Samuel?" He thought it was Eli calling. He jumped up and ran to Eli to find out what he wanted. Eli said, "No, I didn't call you." It happened three times, when finally it dawned on Eli what was happening. Eli said, "The next time the Lord calls you, answer him. So the next time, Samuel answered that voice, and the Lord spoke further to him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Putting our faith and trust in God enables us
to do with ease what we could never do on our own.
