The Living Bible. Galatians 5:16-17:
I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.
For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures.

As soon as we are saved by accepting Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. This gives us an edge we previously didn’t have in living a more righteous and godly life. The battle never stops, temptations to sin will come and go throughout our lives, but now we have the most valuable arsenal of weapons available to thwart the plans of the evil one.

Obviously, what is needed is constant prayer and meditation. Keep your eyes upon Jesus and the Holy Spirit will guide you in living a full and satisfying life in Christ.

Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” -Mark 7:15‭, ‬21‭-‬23 NIV

Many years ago, a popular comedian named Flip Wilson got a lot of mileage out of an old expression used as an excuse since before I can remember: the devil made me do it. As Christians, we know that humanity is a fallen race in a fallen world whose only hope for redemption is the blood of Jesus. Once we accept His wonderful gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us. When that happens, what is inside comes out — and that certainly should be His precious love.

Father, thank you for allowing us to receive and make use of the conviction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, helping us to grow ever closer to our Savior.