The penchant of our flesh to take the path of least resistance, to dabble in sin – at least up to a certain point, or to walk in pride and rebellion is an old, old story (Romans 7). At regeneration, through submission to Christ as our life (Colossians 3:3-4; Acts 26:18), we are dead to the slavery of sin by the power of Christ in us (Galatians 5:24; Romans 6:17, 7:5; 8:8-9).
In the beginning of our new life, we are often still orientated to the reliance on our “flesh” that hinders us from following hard after the Lord. We soon learn, however, to rise up early and to stay up late in order to seek Him. Our soul thirsts for a deeper union with Him, and to experience His power. His loving kindness is better than anything this world has to offer (Psalm 63:1-4).
We cannot reform our human nature by religious habits and actions, nor can we sanctify our soul by suppressing our will, denying our true desires, or covering up our failings with self-effort. Our personal identity, individuality, potential, interests, habits, etc. are transformed by God’s Spirit into the mind and nature of Christ who abides within us (2 Corinthians 3:5, 5:15-17; Romans 14:7, 15:3; Philippians 2:3-4; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Timothy 4:7).
Our Father God soon teaches us not to strive to change our nature of compulsive preoccupations, obsessive patterns of behavior, enslaving habits, tendencies toward addictions, and focusing on humanistic and carnal behavior, but to enter into His rest and to fully submit to the sanctification process of His Spirit in our soul.
We cannot overcome these old habits and hang-ups on our own, but God’s Spirit can replace our carnality, weaknesses, and flesh with His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). He totally changes our world views, our mindset, our life’s goals, and our daily desires. Christ in us becomes the center of our focus every day of our life (Colossians 3:3-4).
Prayer:
Father God, we are new creations in Christ Jesus, as we totally surrender our will and ways to Your Spirit’s pruning process. Thank you for ridding us of sinful desires of our flesh that war against our spiritual desires, which are placed there by Christ in us (Galatians 5:15-25; Philippians 2:12-14).
Your Spirit prunes us of compulsive, neurotic, addictive, enslaving, cyclical, controlling and selfish desires that undermine our spiritual desires and cause us to lose the edge of our spiritual maturity and the intimacy of our union with You. Without Your help, we are helplessly drowning in the hopelessness of our slavery to sin (Romans Chapters 6-8; Galatians 5:15-25, Hebrew 12:11; Psalm 89:40; Jeremiah 48:18).
Thought for the Day:
We live to bless God all the days of our life; and in exchange, He gives us His joy on our lips and His peace in our heart; He satisfies our longing for deeper spiritual truths as we lay on our bed at night and meditate on His goodness and His Word each moment of our day; He is our constant help in times of need, and He hides us under His wings and holds us in His right hand.
- Psalm 63:15-8
