What do you want?

What do any of us want?

Common wisdom suggests that the flesh drives our wants and desires.

Paul counters that the flesh prevents us from doing what we most deeply desire. Only the Spirit releases us to pursue the fulfillment that comes through the practice of love, joy, peace, and so forth.

Carnal convenience is a short cut that distorts the realization of who we truly are and are meant to be, Spirit-controlled, spiritual beings who do not march in legalistic lock-step to the drumbeat of false personas or cheap imitations of humanity, but in the rhythmic flow and gracious harmony of a life liberated by Christ.

Galatians 5:16-24
"Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."