May 31

For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. — Gal 5:17 BSB

The Holy Spirit is especially tender of His own work upon the soul. He is the one who originally formed it; it is His own spiritual creation. Just as a mother watches over her infant, so the Holy Spirit watches over the spirit He has brought to life. The spirit within us is the counterpart of Himself, for it is the spirit He has raised up in the soul by His almighty power. Because of this, the Holy Spirit continually acts upon it, breathes fresh life and power into it, and communicates grace from the inexhaustible fullness of the Son of God. This enables the spirit to breathe, to act, to struggle, and to fight against the flesh, preventing the flesh from having its own way. The spirit can fight, act, and desire good just as the flesh desires evil.

What a mercy it is that we have these heavenly breathings within our soul—the spirit fighting against the flesh, crying out to God for help. The spirit within us takes hold of the arm of Omnipotence outside of us, seeking strength from the Lord God Almighty. By the power thus communicated, the spirit fights against the flesh and sometimes gains a blessed victory over it. For what can the flesh do against the spirit when it is animated by divine power? What are sin, Satan, and the world compared to a Triune God in arms?

This is what makes the victory certain—our allies are stronger than our enemies, and the work of God in our soul is greater than anything sin, Satan, or the world can bring against us. This is why the Apostle Paul could say, after describing the inward conflict, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25). And after listing all the opposition Christians face, he cries out in holy triumph, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).