Pastor Jeremiah Johnson emphasized the struggle between living by the Spirit and the desires of the flesh from Galatians 5. He highlighted how our need for control displaces God from His rightful position in our lives. He encouraged the congregation to recognize the internal battle that exists, urging them to sow into the Spirit rather than the flesh, which is made possible by the indwelling Holy Spirit. By yielding to the Holy Spirit's promptings, engaging in daily prayer, and staying in God's presence, believers can loosen their grip on control and embrace a life of dependence and surrender. Ultimately, this allows individuals to grow in spiritual maturity, fostering a deeper relationship with Christ and a vibrant community of faith.

What is one area of your life where you struggle to let go of control?

• What two opposing sides does Paul identify in this text? How do we recognize the working of each of these?

• What does Paul say is essential to bearing the fruit of the Spirit?

• How is it possible to live in step with the Spirit? What is this text teaching us about living in right relationship with God? And what is not teaching us?

• What stands out to you personally in this passage?

• Think of a recent situation where you faced a choice between following the Spirit or giving in to your own desires. How can being aware of this battle influence your decisions when facing temptations or challenges?

• How does understanding the singular nature of the fruit of the Spirit impact how you approach your spiritual growth and relationships with others?

• Yielding to His Prompting. How can you foster a sense of expectation in your daily life with God?

• Engaging in Daily Prayer: What specific steps will you take this week to strengthen your structured or unstructured prayer time?

• Staying in His Presence: What specific practices can you adopt in your life to become more sensitive to your dependence on the Holy Spirit?

• Thank God for the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

• Pray for clarity in recognizing the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

• Ask God to help you yield control in specific areas of your life.

• Pray for deeper connection and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Pastor Jeremiah spoke about breath prayers as a way of incorporating unstructured prayer time into your day. Breath prayer has been used by Christians throughout church history in response to Paul's admonition to pray without ceasing. A traditional breath prayer is “"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner."

“To practice breath prayer, ponder the nearness of God. Deeply breathe in, repeating any name of God that is dear to you. As you exhale, voice a deep desire of your heart. The brevity of the prayer allows it to be repeated over and over throughout the day”

Examples, “Father, here I am.” “Abba, would you be with me today?” “Shepherd, help me to lean on your Holy Spirit.” “Lord, speak for your servant ___ is listening.”

• What scriptures help center you on God's presence in your life? Choose one to use as a breath prayer to God.

• What in this experience of prayer do you find most meaningful?

• How can you remind yourself to include this practice in your daily life?