“Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.” Galatians 5:16-17
How do I overcome my fleshly nature and desires? I have on multiple occasions asked myself this and have been asked by others the same. In this short blog using the verse in the bible we can explore the answer to this truth.
To begin with, we need to understand this background - WE ARE LIVING IN A WAR! Whether you know it or not, from the time you were born and at the current time you are living in there is a war that is waging over your life in the spiritual realm. As a consequence of this there are two forces that present to us as choices daily - the flesh or the spirit. Unlike many things in the physical realm there are NO three multiple choices, ie there is no middle ground. In other words If you are not in the spirit then you are automatically in the flesh!
When the bible means flesh in this context, it is talking about our carnality, the desires that come with the flesh, our own selfish nature. The bible says that the only way to overcome our own flesh is to be ACTIVE IN THE SPIRIT. Have you come across a treadmill that is manually powered? The manual treadmill is not electricity assisted, instead the speed at which you walk or run determines the speed at which the treadmill operates in. Likewise, this is the same with being in the spirit or in the flesh. Whatever you empower with the daily choices of life is in turn leading and operating our lives.
So how do we overcome then? Simply make the choice to be in the spirit everyday! Do the things that strengthen your relationship with the Lord Jesus. By choosing to follow the guidance of the HolySpirit, continually yielding, motivated by and trusting Him we can remain always in the Spirit!
Amen!
MEDITATE/KNOW/IMAGINE CONSTANTLY - I choose to obey the HolySpirit everyday!
