“The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:6-7).

This is not a law, but a reality.  We sometimes think that where our thoughts end up are a very private matter, but not to God.  He who sees all things know the way of our hearts.  We are to work on being whom we proclaim and living the faith in word and deed.  Be thankful to the One who gives all good gifts and live in the truth of His will and way knowing He sees all things.

Lord, help me to be consistent in thoughts and in deeds.  There are temptations and it is not these things I am talking about, but where I do not do what I ought and then pretend something else to mask my sinfulness.  Let me share with others as others have shared with me.  Help me to learn how to be generous, giving, and thoughtful with all whom I meet.  Lead me in the way I need to go.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  You know what hinders our hearts.  You know those places where the Spirit needs to be in control.  Bring me to the place where I am what You know I can be and have removed those things which hinder my life in You.  Give me Your heart, Lord, that I would walk as You walked in this age and live a life that is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Amen.

“But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.  For each one will bear his own load” (Galatians 6:4-5).

A life that includes meditation is a part of living the life that Christ offers.  Introspection and true assessment bring one to realize that the only one with whom you are in competition is the old Adam who seeks to destroy.  Come then and live into the life that is offered and do the work the Lord gives you knowing that what He will do is build you up in the likeness of Christ, our Savior.

Lord, help me enter into the vineyard and once again seek to do what You give me to do.  Let me not worry about what my neighbor is doing, but instead simply do what You give me to do.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You would have me go, doing what You give me to do, and contemplating these things that I may learn under Your Spirit’s direction to do what is needed.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to be tested.  Guide me, Lord, in the way that leads to eternal life.  Guard my heart against all false things and teach me to be constantly discerning.  Help me, O Lord, that I may day by day become more like You.  Give me eyes to see the progress, not as the world sees it, but as You show me.  Let me appeal to You alone for approval that I would have nothing to boast of except You.  Amen.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:2-3).

Who are you?  We tend to sinfully think more highly of ourselves than we ought.  We all go through the same motions and, by and large, have the same issues.  Share with one another and live in peace in-so-far as you are concerned with others.  This is enough work for each one of us because we do struggle with thinking ourselves exempt from the things that tempt all of us.

Lord, teach me to the depths of my heart that I am indeed no different than any of my neighbors.  (There but for the grace of God go I.) Guide me in the goodness of Your love to see others in the same way I see myself and in all these things to be honest about what I see.  Teach me to truly accept and love my neighbor as one created in Your image and loved by You as You love all equally.  Guide me in Your way and truth, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You died that all would have the opportunity to come through You and to You for eternity.  Lead me in the upward way You have made possible by grace.  Guide me to realize that in You there is great love and hope.  In all things, lead me to become like You.  Begin with today and help me see the changes You are making in me that I may willingly take on the challenge of seeing all others through Your eyes.  Amen.

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galataians 6:1).

Too often, we look for ways to tear down others.  In the Word, we are taught to care for the other with the goal always of restoring such a one to the faith.  Do not live as the world lives to tear others down, but as one who loves others as the Lord loves them and is always praying and working for others, living the life you have been given by grace.  Be at peace with others.

Lord, grant that I would have a heart that is reconciled to You in and through all things.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see that in Your grace is not freedom to do as I please, but the ability to care for others as You care for me.  Teach me how to use this ability You have given me that I may grow in Your likeness and be of use for the growth of Your kingdom.

Jesus, You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of life that I would learn from You and care for those You place in my life.  Help me learn the art of restoration that I would be about the business of true reconciliation.  Lead me, Lord, where You would have me go.  Help me to have a new heart that I would care for those You place in my life.  Amen.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:25-26).

Loving your neighbor is more than the doing of good.  Do you really care for those around you?  Do you keep yourself from thinking ill of others?  The Lord will change our hearts that we would be at peace with ourselves and with our neighbor.  This is the invitation to the new life which is ours through Christ.  This is the goal of our salvation: that we will become whom the Lord is making us to be.

Lord, open my eyes to see more clearly that in You is all hope and a future.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always abide in You, growing into the person You are making me to be.  Deal with the envy and other inappropriate feelings I have toward my neighbor that I would learn to be content in all things.  Lead me in this direction, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may have the fulness of life through You.  Continue to work in me that I would live with the new heart You give me.  Guide me today in those things I need to learn that I would not merely settle for grace for myself when I can be one who actually does good for others.  Raise me up for every challenge and lead me in the way of life which will be mine in eternity.  Amen.  

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24).

Do you see what needs to happen?  We are born in rebellion against God.  We need to lay down our rebellion that we may be picked up by Christ and live in a new way.  How this happens is a mystery, but that it happens is the message of the Gospel.  You have been claimed by Christ in your baptism.  Begin again today living as one who has been claimed by Christ and be conformed to His image.

Lord, I know too many who stop here and try and figure these things out.  Instead Lord, guide me to die to the self that I may be resurrected with Christ in the narrow way that leads to eternal life.  Remove those obstacles that get in the way and in all things may I be found living and working in the new life that comes through faith and by grace, Lead me, Lord, to where I need to be led.

Lord Jesus, You went to the cross and have invited us to join You there. You have done all the real work, but we each have our part.  Guide me Lord ever deeper along the narrow way that daily I would die to sin to be resurrected in Your likeness.  Help me to make good and right choices throughout this and every day and learn the lessons You will give me.  Let me not doubt Your love, grace, and mercy, but live in the hope of Your promises which belong to those who love You.  Amen.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Most Christians are familiar with this list.  They may not live it, but they know it.  Like the commandments, these are the goal.  Let the old Adam die and let the Spirit replace the old with the new.  The reality is, you and I need to get out of the way and the Holy Spirit needs to replace the old with the new.  Be led by the Spirit and watch as these fruits grow in you.

Lord, may I indeed see the fruits of Your Spirit grow in me.  You know what is needed for this to happen.  You know where I need to be pruned.  You know the soil that needs to be added and the rocks that need to be taken away.  Lord, everything is according to Your will and way that in each of us we become more like Christ as You shape us into whom we are becoming by Your grace.

Lord Jesus, in many ways You have told us of the process of becoming which is ours when we follow You.  Guide me, dear Lord, that I would indeed follow You in all of Your ways and be led by Your Spirit.  Grow in me those fruits which befit the kingdom that I may be prepared in all ways to be a part of all that You are.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, now and forever in this journey of becoming fit for Your kingdom.  Amen.

“envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).

What are you practicing?  What guides you in this life?  Do you take to heart and practice what is good in the sight of the Lord, or practice what the world teaches?  One does not need a lesson in these things, for they are all around us.  Instead, we are to put into practice that which we know is right, good and salutary.  Begin with the Ten Commandments, not in terms of obligation, but as instruction in righteousness.

Lord, I often forget the life to which You have called me through grace.  Guide me. O Lord, that I may look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, and be guided as You will lead.  Let me not look to the world, nor live as the world, but instead look to You, the One who has already overcome the world.  You know all that is needed that I may be with You where you are.

Lord Jesus, lead me in the way of everlasting life.  I am tempted to live as the world lives.  I am tempted to abandon the way You have set before me and then excuse my behavior with cheap grace.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way that fights through all temptation and lives the kind of life that is pleasing to the Father.  Lord Jesus, You have saved me.  Please teach me how to live.  Amen.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions” (Galatians 5:19-20)

By the way, the Greek word for sorcery is pharma, or, drugs.  The modern culture dabbles a lot in drugs.  But it is not just that.  Those things which are physical and simulate feeling are what are at the core of the deeds of the flesh.  Contrast this with the control of the mind and you see the battle.  Who controls your soul?  You?  Sin?  The Lord?  You have been given a great gift in the offer of salvation.  What will you do with it?

Lord, teach me to know the difference between right and wrong, more than just a head nod of agreement. Help me to live what is right and flee from what is wrong.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into the life You have given me that I may now and always abide in the truth of Your love and practice life as it is meant to be lived.  Help me learn self-control and how to overcome the deeds of the flesh.

Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of this age.  You know the difficulty of abiding in true life.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of daily living such that I keep my balance and hold fast to righteous and godly living.  Lord, let me not pursue what builds me up, but instead what reveals the truth of Your kingdom.  Help me to always abide in You as You abide in me.  Amen.

“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law” (Galatians 5:17-18).

You and I know that we are unable to fulfill the whole of the law.  We also know that if we break even one part of the law, it is as if we broke the whole of the law.  Why would you depend upon that which you know will fail when you are called to depend upon the One who never fails?  Come then and live in the freedom which is yours in Christ knowing that He who is in you is more than able to do all He has promised.

Lord, I am in this situation where I want what I cannot have and do not listen to words of wisdom that speak truth.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may now and always listen to You and walk in Your ways.  Guide me, knowing that I have this struggle, and help me to overcome it each time I face the temptation to walk by the flesh and not by the Spirit.  I need to be delivered from evil by You, O Lord.

Holy Spirit, breath of God, come and stir up my heart that I may walk in the newness of life that You give.  Help me to understand each day the temptations that are before me.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life that I may practice that which shall ever and always be lived.  Lift me out of the perpetual conundrum of sin to live life as it is meant to be lived here, now, and forever.  Amen.