Galatians 5:16(NLT)
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
A craving is defined as an intense desire for something. Some people have a strong craving for a particular food. With all the hormonal changes, this is especially true for pregnant women. The food cravings can be pretty intense. Then there are those that crave power, fame, and money. The hold of these things can be so strong that those caught in its grip will do anything to satisfy the craving. God’s Word teaches us in Galatians 5:16 that it is best to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in life, so that our natural inclination to sin won’t take over.
Our bodies are spectacular structures, and they come with built-in functions and longings. 1Corinthians 3:16 tells us that our bodies were created to be God’s temple. Our bodies are home for the indwelling Holy Spirit. One of the things we find out very quickly is that the further we get away from God’s intended purpose for the body, the more longings we have for sinful pleasure.
We allow our feelings and emotions to take over and govern our actions, and then we find ourselves given over to temptation. Galatians 5:25(NLT) tells us, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” “Every part” means every part. God wants to live fully through every facet of our existences, and it is our choice as to whether we will live fully in Him.
God also tells us in 1Corinthians 3:16 that our bodies are not our own; they belong to Heavenly Father. When we act upon impulses of darkness and sin, we are violating that which belongs to God, and He’s not pleased with this.
Galatians 6:8(NLT) tells us, “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” For every action there is a re-action—a corresponding event that represents AND exceeds the character, quality, and features of our initial action. In short, we get it back. Romans 6:23 tells us that there’s a payment, a reciprocating propitiation for sin, and it is death. Every time that we indulge sin, some part of something valuable to us dies. If we’re honest with ourselves, and if we examine our lives and circumstances with scrutiny, we can’t help but see that this is true. Heavenly Father doesn’t want this for us. He doesn’t want us giving the devil any openings to attack, and this is why God warns us so vehemently in His Word about sin.
God doesn’t cause pain and suffering, but He must allow it whenever there is disobedience and sin action. We have a choice. Just like our Master Jesus, we can resist sin cravings with “It is written…” God has given us the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us resist temptations, and if our aim is to please God and live a wonderful life, we’ll do as Galatians 5:25 says and let him guide us in every part of our lives.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Resist the Craving”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.