THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Wednesday, July 17, 2024

 Lord, you see the spiritual warfare that rages within me. This lifelong conflict pits my mind against my spirit. You might say this warfare is between your desire for me and my desire to do what I want, to control my own destiny. Scripture claims all believers wage this war.

 “The ‘flesh’ [our carnal self] sets its desire against the Spirit [God’s plan] and the Spirit against the flesh” (Galatians 5:17).

 Many believers profess, “Sure, I want God’s will for my life as long as it aligns with what I want and fits within my plans.” I’ve been there, done that.

 Your Spirit never fails to slap me upside my spiritual head with a warning when I resist his leading. How can you say with a straight face that surely these struggles I encounter are from the devil, the enemy of my soul and not because I insist on having my way. Without total surrender to your plan, Lord, which is always best for me, my flesh puts up a fierce, yet mostly losing, battle. In my mind, I acknowledge that, Yes, Lord, you know what I need, but in practice, I refuse to let go of my self-determination.

 Reviewing my circumstances where struggles and problems continually exist, am I surprised my biggest problems are in the areas I insist in controlling? Those lingering habits that, in and of themselves are not bad, yet, they hinder your Spirit’s transformation in me. Those activities that, again, are not bad, yet, are distractions that tempt me to compromise my values.

 Lord, reveal to me areas where my flesh insists on rulership. May your Spirit help me order my life according to your will and your values. May your Spirit always win against my flesh.

 Amen, Jesus