James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” The Lord can and often stops us in our tracks through adversity from Himself or others.

Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” Ask yourself this question: do I hate my flesh? Years ago there was a dear believer. He used the analogy that you starve the goat and feed the sheep, or you feed the sheep and starve the goat. 

We starve our goat-flesh when we feed our spirit man. Galatians 5:16 says that when we walk in the Spirit, we will deny our fleshly lusts. Our spirit man feeds on God’s word. It is His pasture and still waters that our Good Shepherd leads us to daily. 

Ephesians 3:16 Amplified says, “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the (Holy) Spirit (Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality).”