[That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot.
(Romans 8:7 AMP)
My head is just all over the place. Thoughts reiterating it’s never going to happen. How do I know what God is doing? All I see is that it has gotten worse. The flesh waging war on my mind. Taking advantage of my vulnerability. Knowing exactly what I need to be said to bring me down on my knees, wondering when? Will You ever show up Lord? I’m unable to affirm His truth by what my eyes sees. By what my ears tell me. By what my hearts feels. The Flesh.
Feelings of hopelessness creeping in. Sadness. Anxiety. How does so many unprecedented events occur in such a few months?! One thing after another! Each holding its own Banner of Triumph. One labeled, “God doesn’t care.” Another, “You’re only fooling yourself.” Yet another, “Fight with Him.” And another, “God doesn’t keep His promises.” “Salvation will never come.” “Forget about restoration.” “You’re defeated.” “Water doesn’t come from rock.” “Beauty doesn’t come from ashes.”
The enemy is the father of lies!
One discouragement after another, telling me everything it can to bring me down. To annihilate the hope desperately trying to thrive in my heart. Dimming the light as trial after trial become harder and harder to pray through. Bringing to the forefront how vulnerable I am. Always fearing of losing again. How much more can my heart take before it breaks again? No matter my efforts, I fail to adhere to God’s Word.
And if a kingdom is divided and rebelling against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that house will not be able to last.
(Mark 3:24-25 AMP)
It’s crazy how often we’re in a battle with ourselves. Not knowing what to believe. Not knowing what to do. Not knowing who to listen to. Not knowing if what is read is Truth. As a result, we’re trapped in a constant state of confusion. Disoriented. Perplexed. Just outright discombobulated! Unable to clearly think! It effects our ability to learn. It hinders our desire to trust. We’re cemented where we stand!
It’s impossible to be successful at anything when we don’t know what to do or how to do it. This leads to becoming stagnant in the very place you’re trying to flee from. The thing we need to realize and accept is that there’s a real enemy! Our flesh! The flesh cannot obey God. It’ll do everything possible to convince you of something that completely opposes God.
We will never receive peace from the enemy!
We’ll ask ourselves why the presence of God isn’t here in this situation. These attacks just keep coming and I’m being forced into a corner with no outlet. It doesn’t occur to me that the heavens are closed because there’s something I need to do first. He’s the only way to survive. He’s the Truth, the Way, and the Life. I must not yield to the flesh that wants to pull me toward the desires that can only produce negative outcomes. It’s always waging war against our soul! But how?
Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:1 AMP)
We can’t help but feel there’s something wrong with us and be so harsh on ourselves for being weak minded. Guilt sets in for trying to do things in our own strength. Not understanding the enemy possesses real power! He’s no joke! He doesn’t want any of us to serve God in any capacity! So his mission is to fill our minds with stinkin thinkin! Since he knows us quite well, his tactics are precise, knowing exactly what arrow to choose and when to aim it. He convinces us that we need to give in to the desires of our flesh or we will miss out on what we think we’ll achieve by surrendering to our thoughts. LIES!
When we fail, we must remember that we aren’t a failure!
We’re never too far gone even if we’re the one who dug the grave we’re in. Christ died for our freedom! Christ didn’t die for us to depend on ourselves. He didn’t die for us to condemn ourselves. He didn’t die for us to feel hopeless. No doubt we will fail at things. No one will always get everything right. Not impossible. But when we fail, we must remember that we aren’t a failure!
Jesus was the perfect sinless sacrifice. There isn’t a need for another sacrifice to take place. But often it’s difficult to embrace that Truth when our flesh wants us to surrender to its desires. The flesh is powerful, but may we always remember Jesus won the battle at the Cross! The guilt felt from not being able to do what needs to be done and doing what shouldn’t be done is forgivable! We can repent and trust that His sacrifice represents His commitment to us. For Jesus knew that apart From God we can do nothing!
Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
(Romans 12:2 AMP)
As we delve into the Word, we have the reassurance of God’s willingness to help us in our struggles. He instructs us to redirect our thoughts. We need not carry the weight of what we can’t do in our strength. Christ who was raised from the dead will restore us. But this doesn’t happen without our commitment to reading His Word.
His Word is alive and active and has the power to transform!
We must deny our flesh. Often, it’s difficult and it may even seem impossible. But we can’t experience a breakthrough without fighting through the tactics of the enemy. The pain is real. The struggle is real. The suffering is more than we can bear. And if we don’t contend for what Christ died to give us, we will be lost. We need to be intentional about Who we are going to turn to. We can’t look to the right. We can’t look to the left. We must look directly to our Lord and Savior. The One who wants nothing more than to save us from our plight.
My self-directed life hinders the abundant life we were meant to have. Through our personality we make choices that we think are best for us. But it’s a carnal decision, and therefore, will yield the results that opposes the Spirit. Feeding the flesh separates us from God. The flesh can’t live a Christian life. It can’t do the things it ought to do. We tend to say, “I want to…” but if we were able to do this ourselves then we wouldn’t need God. And Jesus Christ died for us specifically because we need Him. And we need Him daily. We were never equipped to save ourselves.
However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby, will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].
(John 16:7 AMP)
Living a humanistic life will never offer us what we need to thrive in this life. We need the Holy Spirit. He came to us as promised by Jesus to be our Helper. To help us in all situations. Big and small. Painful and pleasing. Including the moments of tragedy. It’s only through The Holy Spirit we may live the abundant life Christ died to give us.
The Holy Spirit is God! He was sent to guide us into all Truth. He was sent to convict us from all the things we do, right and wrong. He was sent to reveal Christ to us, in us, and through us. He was sent to sanctify us. He was sent to transform us. He was sent to set us free from the law of sin and death. He was sent to help us in our weaknesses. He was sent to strengthen us. He was sent to anoint us. He was sent to produce fruit in us and through us. He was sent to comfort us as we grieve. He was sent to help our love ones. He was sent to us to protect us as I know He’s doing this very second while I’m receiving alerts of Tornado Warning-Seek Shelter Now.
God is for us and not against us!
May we step into that place of trusting the Holy Spirit. Believing that His purpose is to dwell within us. Trusting we can only be empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, the more dependent we become on Him. He is equipped to respond to any situation that we’re faced with. He already dwells within us. He’s closer than we think. The Holy Spirit meets us where we are. We need only to surrender to Him.
Are you willing to surrender to the Holy Spirit?
Dear Lord Jesus, there’s no other like You! You’re excellent in all Your ways! Thank You for Your willingness to be crucified, ascended into Heaven so that the Helper may come to us! It’s the greatest gift we can ever be given! Lord, forgive us for not trusting in You when we should. For not grasping in all situations that You are for us and not against us. Help us in our unbelief Lord! Help us turn to You for everything. Apart from You we can do nothing. Your love never fails us Lord. You are for us and not against us. Help us surrender our will and embrace Your will. Trusting that You’re always in control. Believing You always want what’s best for us. May the fire in our hearts never burn out for You.
It is in Your Son’s Name Jesus Christ we pray. Song: House Of Prayer
Amen.
God bless you and yours.
I love you.
In His Grip,