The Devil isn’t the only force that is opposing spiritual growth. He has an ally that lives within you. The Biblical authors called it the flesh. It’s the part of you that wants to be free from the reign of God to pursue whatever desires you find within you. The devil’s deceptive ideas find a willing accomplice in our disordered desires. To grow a robust and resilient inner life, we must practice the habits that work with the Spirit to grow his fruit of love, joy, and peace. The flesh has desires that are contrary to God and lead us to inner ruin. The Spirit has desires that are aligned with God and lead to flourishing. It matters which one you feed.