Breaking the Flesh, Hearing the Spirit

Have you ever found yourself going through the motions of faith—serving, ministering, checking all the spiritual boxes—while somehow missing the still, small voice calling you back to what truly matters? That's exactly where I found myself when God interrupted my morning with a powerful revelation from Galatians 5:7: "You were running the race boldly. Who has interfered and hindered and stopped you from heeding and following the truth?"

In this raw, unscripted conversation guided entirely by the Holy Spirit, I open my heart about the personal struggles that had been weighing on me—podcast pressures, business demands, parenting challenges, and unhealthy patterns. While I remained active in ministry and service, I had unintentionally shifted my focus to religious works rather than authentic relationship. My schedule was overflowing with "God activities," yet I was missing God Himself. Sound familiar?

The profound difference between hearing God's voice and truly listening becomes the cornerstone of this message. Like many believers, I could hear the Holy Spirit's promptings throughout my day—while working at my computer, playing with my daughter, or going about my routine—but I wasn't pausing long enough to heed that guidance. The battle between flesh and Spirit rages within us all, as Galatians 5:17 illustrates: "For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh..." Through transparent sharing of my own journey with comparison, anxiety, and the pressure to perform even in ministry, this episode offers a compassionate reminder that God doesn't condemn our missteps but gently corrects our course.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, struggling to hear God's voice amid the noise, or simply needing reassurance that your trials are purposeful preparation, this message speaks directly to the heart. Take this moment to pause, breathe deeply, and rediscover the gentle whisper that's been trying to reach you all along. Your unique purpose awaits when you surrender control and truly listen.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Personal Struggle
• 3:15 Revelation from Galatians 5
• 7:15 Hearing vs Listening to God's Voice
• 12:40 Breaking the Flesh Through Obedience
• 17:25 Walking in the Spirit Daily
• 21:35 Prayer and Final Encouragement

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Good morning and thank you for joining me on Divine Harmony Faith. I'm your host, cliche Rice, and I'm so excited that you guys are here with me today. Today's a little different, I don't know. I woke up this morning and the Lord just placed on my heart to have a conversation and just talk about the goodness of God. Nothing fancy, just pure transparency, just openness.

Speaker 1: 0:31

I have been struggling a little bit in my life currently with a lot that's going on surrounding my podcast and business and raising my two-year-old, and it has been weighing on me. And this morning God gave me a word out of Galatians and it was so intimate and so right on time, because God is always right on time, he is always there, and he just was reminding me that he is preparing me for a time such as this and I was so grateful to him for doing that. I was so grateful to him for showing me the way, because I felt like I had gotten off track from what I know in my heart God has called me to do in reference to this podcast, in reference to things in my personal life serving the church and ministering to people, whatever that looks like, whatever the Holy Spirit leads in that moment, on that day or what have you, and I've kind of gotten a little sidetracked from that, which is so strange because I started off so on fire and unintentionally, I started to shift my focus on works, and when I say works I mean, like you know, I'd go to church and I would serve during the week. I just filled my life with a bunch of busyness in the name of serving God. And he just revealed to me in Galatians and I have my Bible here I'll read the scripture that really spoke to me to let me know, and I hope this can help someone this is not scripted. I am not scripted. This is solely led by the Holy Spirit. I was led today to just get on here and speak about the goodness of God and what he is revealing to me in my life. So I'm being very vulnerable right now with you guys. I am being very transparent. This is not without what I anticipated or thought my day would start like, but I am here and I am being obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Speaker 1: 3:08

So the scripture in Galatians which he led me to Galatians 5, and it reads Galatians 5 7, and it reads you were running the race boldly. Who has interfered and hindered and stopped you from your heeding and following the truth. And it just stuck out to me so much. You know, when you read your scriptures and you read your Bible, you know how God can, just a scripture, can just jump off the page at you and just hit you right in your heart. And that's exactly what that scripture did. It hit me right in my heart and I just immediately started crying, I started praying, saying Lord, what removed me from you? And I know the scripture says truth. I don't think for me he means truth like his scripture and his word, because I am still rooted I've always been rooted and grounded in scripture and truth.

Speaker 1: 4:17

But I was running this good race. I was running this noble race. I was on fire for God, everything was surrounding him and his business, and then I started to get sidetracked. I started filling my life with nothing but busyness. I'm running all over the place, I'm going live every day, I'm doing Bible study and yes, it is God's business. And yes, it is God's business, but at what cost? At the cost of intimacy with him, at the cost of not having time to read my scriptures, the business I called you to do, and that is to spread the gospel and let anyone who has ears to hear and a heart to receive know about the goodness of God. So I had to really take a moment this morning and say Lord, god, what are you revealing to me? What do I need to do differently? And he said I heard it clear as day record do what I told you to do, record, but speak from your heart and speak about the goodness of God. So I am going to do that today. So no fluff, no filters, just all God, and I am so grateful for how he is moving in my life.

Speaker 1: 5:56

Like I said, I am being transparent and vulnerable right now because I have been dealing and struggling with anxiety, fear, doubt. I know in my heart God called me to do something, but I have allowed a lot of things in my life to step in and attempt to pull me from this calling, this calling of truth, this calling of speaking what God has for the people. And while dealing with that the fear, the doubt, the anxiety it literally almost drove me crazy. I remember one day, maybe about two weeks ago or a week ago, I was doing my morning devotion and I had a thousand thoughts running through my head and it was literally so loud, so profound, that I had to just pray and ask God to remove these thoughts. They were just running in my head and what God revealed to me, which I know now, is the enemy does not want me to do what God has called me to do. He does not want you to do what God has called you to do. He does not want us to be saved. He does not want us to seek God's face. He does not want us to have salvation. He doesn't care how we die, he just doesn't want us to die serving God. So anything that I decide to do in the name of God or that I'm led to do through the Holy Spirit, that I am obedient and I listen, guess what? He's going? To try to stop that. And that's exactly what he was doing.

Speaker 1: 7:38

So today, and that happened to me about two weeks ago. But today, when I was reading the scriptures, god was just telling me you know who or what are you doing this for? He was telling me to stay focused, be patient, wait on me. And he kept telling me my sheep hear my voice and they listen. Because what I was doing was hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit. And this is just a side note from being attacked from the enemy, but I was hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit, but I wasn't listening. I was hearing it and not listening. So real quick for me.

Speaker 1: 8:27

Right now God is talking to me about doing certain things in my life, whether it is about the business, whether it's about personal life, fasting, you know, whatever it may be, and I was crying out to God, begging him to help me. I suffer with a horrible eating habit, and what I mean by this I don't mean like anxiety or anything like that, but I have horrible eating habits and God has been prompting me to change my eating habits and change the way I see and look at food commercialized and glorified eating that when we eat these bad things or we consume these things in abundance, that there's nothing wrong with that. And God is revealing to me as of recent that there is a huge thing wrong with that and that when you consume bad foods and things that are going to affect your body, your temple, where the Holy Spirit lies, in a negative manner, that it needs to be corrected. So he had been speaking to me about that and when he led me to Galatians 5 this morning, a lot of this has to do with hearing the Holy Spirit, heeding to his voice, listening to what he's saying, and then being obedient and doing it, and in that, god will cover the rest. So I was so grateful for that because of the struggle that I've been dealing with Preparation. God has been preparing me for a time as this and preparing me to spread his word and preparing me to speak to the people, and in the midst of that preparation, he really is guiding me to certain things, and one of the things is hearing the Holy Spirit's voice and being obedient to it. So if you're suffering because, like I said, I woke up this morning and God led me to record this and I am going to post it this is unfiltered. It is not even labeled or anything like that. I am solely being obedient to the Holy Spirit. So I know for a fact that God has someone out there that needs to hear this. So if you are struggling at this moment with questions of your walk, questions of your faith, your obedience, things like that, or even if you think you're hearing from God or you are hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit but aren't obeying them, I am here to say that I was doing that.

Speaker 1: 11:25

God has led me to Galatians, chapter five. It is solely speaking to me and I know it would speak to you if you are suffering or struggling with this on obeying God's word. I can't even tell you that in my morning devotion, god said to me I can't even count how many times my sheep hear my voice and they listen. Now I know that's not the scripture verbatim, but that is what God placed on my heart this morning. Over and over again, my sheep hear my voice and they listen. Hey guys, we are hearing the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is there and he is speaking.

Speaker 1: 12:07

But are we listening to what God is saying? Are we taking the time out of our busy schedules and being obedient to his promptings, to his word, to his voice, or are we so busy and so wrapped up that we're not hearing it? And that was me. I was literally begging God, crying out to him to give me a word. Give me a word, give me a word. Speak to me, god. Speak to me, god. I was literally begging him, god. I was literally begging him. Help me, lord, with my eating habits. Help me to stay away from the things that my flesh desires that are not of you. And the whole time he was there prompting me and I was hearing it.

Speaker 1: 12:51

Literally day to day, in my day to day life. I'll be at the computer working, I'll be playing with my daughter, I'll hear a voice, I'll hear something, but I wasn't listening. And God is here telling me, to tell you that you are struggling with not listening. God is speaking to you, you are hearing the promptings of the Holy Spirit, but are you listening and being obedient? And God needs our obedience in order for us to walk in purpose, in order for us to follow the will and the plan that he has for our lives. We have to walk in obedience. We have to trust that he has our best interest in his hand, his hand. We have to trust that he is guiding us. We have to have faith and know that he is guiding us, he is prompting us, he is delivering us, he is walking with us, he is talking with us, he is breaking our flesh. But if we don't listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we won't see it, we won't hear it, we won't be able to be obedient to it. We won't hear it, we won't be able to be obedient to it.

Speaker 1: 14:03

So, guys, that scripture, galatians 5, the entire chapter. Read it for yourselves, let it sink in. God is so good, he is so amazing at what he does. He is so amazing at what he does. He is so gracious. His grace and his mercy renew daily. And he doesn't correct in conviction. He doesn't correct where I'm so convicted that I feel horrible. That's not the correction that I received this morning and it's not the correction that you guys are going to receive from God.

Speaker 1: 14:38

We stumble, we fall, we are imperfect. We are imperfect creatures living in sin. And when I say living in sin, I say that because we have a sinful nature by design. We have to repent daily. We have to pick up our cross and repent daily. We are sinners and we are living in sin, but guess what? We have a good God, a gracious God, who has died on the cross and delivered us from this. So we don't have to live in condemnation. We don't have to live being condemned. I said conviction, but I meant to say condemnation, being condemned. God does not condemn.

Speaker 1: 15:23

So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, know that God has a purpose and a plan for your life. Know that what he has called you to do, he is preparing and equipping you to complete the task that he has started. He has started a good work in you and he is going to bring it to completion. But we have to do our part. We have to do our part. So I encourage you today, no matter what is going on in your life, remember, god is able, he is there, he is by your side, he is walking and talking with you as he does with all of us. He is there. Be encouraged, lean into that. Know that you are covered by God, that you are made. You are his wonderful handiwork, you are his craftsmanship. He knows what you are going through before you even know. He's placed you in positions and situations for a reason To build character, character to build faith, to build trust, to build your walk when you're going through those trials and tribulation. It is preparation for what God has for you in the end. So walk in it with faith, walk in it with truth, knowing the truth of what God says in the scriptures and what he says over you. So, guys, be encouraged to know that God is in control of all. We cannot control anything in our lives around us. We cannot control it. It is all controlled and orchestrated by God. So we need to surrender to him so that his will will be done in our lives, so that his will will go forth, so that when he calls you forth, like Lazarus, out of that tomb, out of that deadness, into life, that you walk with purpose, that you are courageous in your walk, that you spread the word of the gospel with peace and courage. That is what we are called to do, that is the great commission to go out and make disciples of men, and that is what God is going to equip us to do.

Speaker 1: 17:46

Ministry comes in so many forms and fashions, guys. So many forms and fashions. I am not a preacher, I am not a pastor. I simply follow the call of Christ on my life, and that is to speak truth and to speak his word. And that's what I do, plain and simple, bottom line. That's it. I'm no different from any of you. The enemy attacks me, just as he does you guys. I am covered in the blood, just like you guys are. So I walk this walk. I stumble, I fall short, I stumble, I fall short. But God is gracious and if you stay in his word and you seek his face, read your scriptures, stay in the word humble yourself, surrender control over God and the things that you need to break the flesh will happen.

Speaker 1: 18:58

Another scripture that came out talking about breaking the flesh that I've read that was so amazing to me and I'll read it for you guys and it says it's Galatians 5, chapter 7. Oh, I'm sorry, chapter 19. Now the doings practices of the flesh are clear and they're obvious. Let me backtrack, I apologize. Let me backtrack before. I read that it was 17 and not 7. Galatians 5, 17.

Speaker 1: 19:43

For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh, godless, human nature. For these are antagonistic to each other, continually withstanding and in conflict with each other, so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. But if you are guided, led by the Holy Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the doings and practices of the flesh are clear, they're obvious. They are immorality, impurity, indecency, adultery, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, division, party spirit, selfishness, division, party spirit. Think about that. That's what our flesh is about. That's why I say we are sinners. This is what our flesh wants. If we don't break that flesh and surrender to God so that we can walk out our purpose and what God has called us as individuals to do. It also lists envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like.

Speaker 1: 21:16

And then Paul says I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the work, which is presence, which is his presence within, accomplishes, is love, joy, gladness, peace, patience and even temper, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness, meekness, humility, self-control the fruits of the Spirit. So we have to really pay attention to the Holy Spirit and understand what his position is inside of us. And God led me here this morning, not because I didn't understand what the job of the Holy Spirit was, but because I wasn't being obedient to the Holy Spirit for me. Now you receive what God has for you, because what God has for me may not be for you, and that's all right. But I know that he led me today to do this recording. So there's something in here that needs to be seen or heard by the people. So again, the spirit and the flesh, they're fighting against each other. There's war on the inside of us, but God says that the Holy Spirit came to help with that, to break that, to know that he is dwelling inside of us, correcting the wrongs.

Speaker 1: 22:48

The more we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, the more that our life would reveal what it needs to reveal. In Christ, our walk will get stronger, our talk will be different, we'll act and look different. People will see a light on us that comes directly from the Lord and they'll want to know what is that? Why is that person so happy? Why is that person shining? And in turn, you would be able to minister the goodness, the gospel, to them. That is what it is all about, my brothers and sisters. It is all about spreading the gospel, the good news, salvation. That is what it is about spreading.

Speaker 1: 23:36

So, guys, I leave you with this. I leave you with this prayer. It comes directly out of my Bible and it reads help me, lord, to walk and live in the Holy Spirit, being responsive to and led by the Spirit in every situation, so that I will not gratify the flesh, so that I will not gratify the flesh. And even as I'm speaking thank you, lord, for your word, heavenly Father, and even as I'm speaking, god is revealing to me that we need to walk in the Holy Spirit and we need not to give in to flesh. We must break our flesh. We must not gratify the flesh, whatever that looks like.

Speaker 1: 24:29

For me, it's busyness and it's this business meaning my ministry, this podcast. For me, I was starting to focus too much on social media, focus too much on this podcast. Focus too much on social media. Focus too much on this podcast. Focus too much on what people are going to say, what they're hearing. I'm comparing myself to others on social media, what they got going on and God is saying I have what I have for you, and only you. Take heed, slow down, listen to the Holy Spirit, be obedient, and everything else would fall in line. So I leave you with this. My sheep hear my voice and they listen. Galatians, chapter 5. Be blessed, be blessed, be blessed, goodbye.