Latest Devotion
In Step With the Spirit
By: Wendy Sanders
Friday, September 11, 2026
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. Psalm 139:1-4
When my son was little, it was hard for him to control his temper. Whenever he got angry, he would lose control and break things. During this difficult phase, I really had to seek God to learn how to help my son manage his feelings.
The Lord reminded me Jesus had every emotion we do:
- Jesus is joyful when even one person believes in Him (Luke 15:1-7).
- Jesus was upset and angry when people refused to help others (Mark 3:5).
- Jesus was filled with sadness and wept when he looked over Jerusalem (John 11:35).
It's OK to have feelings and emotions because God created them. But we must decide each day how we'll respond to our feelings. Will we respond to our feelings with the fruits of the Spirit? Or will we respond to our feelings in the flesh? What we do with what we're feeling is what makes the difference.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
Most of the time, I know exactly how my flesh wants me to respond. But before I do, I stop, take a deep breath, and ask the Spirit for self-control. Then, I ask God to guide my response. How God guides my response is usually the opposite of what my flesh desired. But when we choose to respond to our feelings God’s way, we are crucifying our flesh and staying in step with the Spirit.
It isn't always easy, but responding to our feelings God’s way shows people we're different. It also lets them see Christ in us. My son is now in his late teens, but he still occasionally points to a mark on a dining room chair that he broke in anger. That mark reminds our family that it's ok to feel things, but it helps us remember what we do about those feelings is what matters.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2