So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
Galatians names something many of us recognize, even if we don’t always have words for it. There are competing desires within us, the flesh, and the Spirit; and the choices we make shape not only our own lives, but how others experience us.
Paul begins this passage not with a warning, but with a reminder: you are called to be free. Not a freedom you have to earn, and not a freedom you have to keep proving yourself worthy of. It is a freedom given in Christ and held by God even when we struggle to live into it fully.
Paul goes on to say that this freedom is meant to move outward. The character of God takes shape within us and, over time, becomes visible in the way we relate to others. This does not happen all at once. It happens gradually, as we learn to walk with the Spirit rather than be carried along by the old patterns of our flesh that we know so well.
Proverbs offers a gentle image for this kind of life: the fruit of the righteous becoming a tree of life. Trees grow slowly, often without being noticed. Their strength is not found in what they produce on demand, but in the steady way they remain, offering nourishment over time.
The Spirit’s work in us often looks like this. A pause before responding. A softened word. Even patience in Atlanta traffic. These moments may feel small, but they are real. They are signs that something living is being cultivated within us.
You don’t have to force this growth. The invitation of Galatians is simply to keep walking. It is to notice which voice you are listening to and to trust that the Spirit is patient and faithful in the process. This is the life God has called us to, and we can rest in the truth that the Spirit remains with us, tending this work with patience and care.
For Reflection
- Where do you sense tension between old habits and new life right now?
- What small sign of growth can you name, even if it feels unfinished?
- Who might be experiencing God’s steadiness through you this week?
Prayer
Gracious God, thank You for the freedom You have given us in Christ. We confess that we often rush or resist the work You are doing in us. Help us trust Your Spirit’s gentle pace. Grow in us what leads to life, for ourselves and for others. Teach us to walk with You today. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
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Devotionals