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I remember storming out of my house so clearly. It was an evening to remember as I was so mad at my parents that I just couldn't handle it. I had tried pacing my room but it didn't help. What was I mad about? Who knows. Nothing that important. I was a teenager and had hormones flowing through me like crazy. Drama is in a teenagers blood. This over-dramatic summer evening found me storming out of my basement door (quietly I might add) and taking a walk. I huffed and I puffed and I walked to nowhere in particular. All I knew was that I needed to be angry and mutter to myself outside of my house. I walked for a good half hour before I calmed down and was ready to return home. But in that time period I had said some choice words and thought some angry thoughts. Once my mind had cleared I began to realize how I may have been at fault throughout my heated exchange with my parents. I was humbled and even a little embarassed at my actions. 

When we choose to satisfy our flesh, we honestly feel a little good. We justify our actions by that feeling and end up in trouble. Perhaps like my teenage drama, we take the anger we feel and let it fester. It only sinks in and creates smoldering embers of bitterness or resentment. 

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. - Galatians 5:16 (NLT)

Other translations translate the beginning of this verse to "walk by the Spirit". We can choose to walk by our flesh, letting ourselves do what our sinful nature craves (cause let's be honest, we all crave a little bit of drama. Why else do we binge watch those dramas on Netflix? Why else do we read those trolling comments on facebook articles?) Instead we walk by the Spirit. We walk in humility. We live our life in a way that honors God and brings Him glory. We also save ourselves from those moments of humiliation as we look in retrospect at our actions. We are called to be witnesses and peacemakers. We strive to display Christ through our lives. We take a walk by the Spirit as our life may be influencial in someone else's decision on the relevance of Christ.