The Struggle of the Flesh
If you are struggling right now with temptations of “the flesh” (that is, any natural impulse contrary to God’s best) contact us to talk about it, privately & confidentially.
Please open your Bible and read Galatians 5:16-26.
When the New Testament refers to flesh, it’s usually not talking about human skin. The flesh is the human side of us that wants to indulge in our selfish desires. It’s a pattern of thinking and conduct that opposes God.
Someone who acts on their natural impulses is living in the flesh. Our natural impulses are geared toward personal comfort and pleasure, not toward pleasing the Lord. That means we’ll do whatever is necessary to satisfy our body and mind. People go to great lengths to fill the emptiness. They participate in acts of sexual immorality, idolatry and some of the other things listed in today’s passage. But nothing can truly satisfy the flesh. It always selfishly wants more.
Unbelievers who act out of self-interest don’t have the Holy Spirit to guide them. There’s no Helper inside to sound the alarm when they’re wrong or to enable better conduct. But the Christian has no such excuse. God’s Spirit dwells within and prompts appropriate behavior and thoughts. But the tug of the flesh remains because we do not shed our humanity until we reach heaven. So, believers still have the capacity to give in to sin and corruption.
To protect ourselves from fleshly desires, we must place our complete trust in the Holy Spirit. Only He can point out wrong actions, thoughts, and attitudes. What’s more, He fills us with the desire to obey and enables us to make right choices.
Question: What is your greatest temptation? Why does Satan choose this particular thing, and which of God’s promises and works defeats this temptation?
If we listen to the promptings of the Holy sprit we will just fine, but if we listen to satan’s deceiving thoghts we will not have a happy ending. We must let god take full control of the situation and then we will do fine.
What a truly powerful and beautiful comment that was listed before me. I believe you have surely addressed the devotional 100% with your response. Just wanted to say i read your comment and it was beautiful. Almost as if i had TWO devotions today instead of just one. Smiles. God bless you Paul. Stay strong in the Lord.
Absolutely hit the nail on the head again! Although I know these scriptures by heart, but as they are expounded the Holy Spirit thrusts them into my mind and my heart. He so aptly “puts things together” in such simple and childlike form with precise counsel that we cannot possibly misunderstand what He is saying. And not only that but the consice application to my own experience removes any dobt that this passage is/was for me to read and understand and grow by. Fundamental truths are the foundational building stones in our lives, and if they are not secured in our hearts and minds the rest will not hold. I had a house years ago that needed some repairs on the foundation. The bricks were cracking and separating as the foundation was sagging. The original contractor had not dug down deep enough to set the edge perimeters to build on and it took great effort and expense to go back and restrengthen what had been neglected. IIt would have been much easier had the foundation been laid correctly before the house had been built on it. Repairs had to be made later to the bricks and scars were apparent. I know that is the same with our spiritual life. I often think of the scripture, I think is in Ephesians, that says, “The foundation of God stands sure having this seal; The Lord knows those who are His and let them that Name the Neme of the Lord depart from iniquity.” This is God’s Mandate for all believers and He has made provision for our Victory over the flesh, the word, “Let” is God’s Supreme Power which enables us to make right choices between God’s way and the ways of our own Flesh. Although we make this “choice” by accepting Jesus, God’s gift to us unto Salvation, but we also make those choices as we walk with Him in fellowship. I John tells us that “If we walk in the Light as He is in the Light we have Fellowship with (God the Father through Jesus) and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness”. It is our choice to not let sin/flesh to interfere with that fellowship. I find that as my age increases some habits/sins die hard, but we are, first, walking by Grace, thank the Lord, but also His Power will enable us to overcome and claim Victory if we will hold on and stand fast and believe, “pressing on to the mark” and making good “mini choices” as we go along. I don’t believe, in my experience, that this is something that we can be attentive to now and just relax later and neglect. I ask God for the mind set, and throough His Word, and through devotions like this one here, keeping our focus sharp and our mind and heart diligently seeking Him and His best for us. We have no doubt that it is God’s will for us to overcome! So our prayers to conquer the flesh are praying within His will and desire and, “these mountains will be moved and cast into the sea” In Jesus’ Name if we truly believe.