"I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit's instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won't always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to" (Galatians 5:16).
Major conflicts in life are resolved when, by an act of the will, one surrenders to the control of the Holy Spirit and faces temptation in His power.
It should be explained that there is a difference between temptation and sin.
Temptation is the initial impression to do something contrary to God's will. Such impressions come to all people, even as they did to the Lord, and they are not sin in themselves.
Temptation becomes sin when we meditate on the impression and develop a strong desire, which is often followed by the actual act of disobedience.
For practical daily living, we simply recognize our weakness whenever we are tempted and obey the Holy Spirit's instructions. When we do not yield to temptation, we breathe spiritually and resume our walk with God.
"At what point does one who practices spiritual breathing become carnal again?" Whenever one ceases to believe God's promise that He will enable us to be victorious over all temptations. The fact is, one need never be carnal again. So long as a believer keeps breathing spiritually, there is no need to live a life of defeat.
The moment you realize that you have done that which grieves or quenches the Spirit, you simply exhale spiritually by confessing immediately, and then inhale as by faith you claim God's forgiveness and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and you keep walking in the light as God is in the light.
TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will consciously seek to obey the Holy Spirit's instructions revealed to me in His holy, inspired Word.
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