Self vs. Spirit

I listened to a great sermon yesterday that was about being filled with the Holy Spirit. And because my mind tends to head in other directions, I found myself thinking about what people are filled with if they aren't filled with the Spirit. I think I figured it out. We are filled with ourselves. When we have bad attitudes, it is because we are thinking of ourselves. When we sin, it is because we are thinking of ourselves. When we back out of commitments, it is because we are thinking of ourselves.... I think you are getting the point.
I stumbled upon these verses in the Message version that I think sums this up pretty well.
"My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day."
Galations 5:16-17
We are either feeding the compulsions of self or we are living motivated by God's Spirit. You can't do both....you have to choose. If you are motivated by the Spirit then you aren't motivated by self. If you are motivated by self, then you can't be motivated by the Spirit because the two have completely different interests.
It is hard for me to imagine living life not motivated by myself. We make decisions based on what is best for ourselves all the time. That's how we decide which house to buy, what job to take, what school to go to...........I wonder what our decisions would look like if we based them on the Spirit instead.
But I know this; we are sinful creatures and the war will continue to rage within us. But I firmly believe if we ask God for help, He will give us the strength we need and the Spirit side will start to win more of those battles than the self side.
So this week, as I am starting this Monday, I am asking God for help; Help to rid myself of myself :) And be filled up by His Spirit so that I can live a life pleasing to Him.