As we mature spiritually, our life, which is immersed in Jesus, becomes our main focus and our ultimate desire (2 Timothy 3:12). Thankfully, God’s Spirit increases our maturity by positioning our desires against the flesh and toward spiritual matters (Galatians 5:17). We reap His generosity every day of our life (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
When satanic forces tempt us to walk in sin, God’s Spirit builds our faith by teaching us to resist temptation. We follow Jesus’ example after His time of fasting in the wilderness, and we use God’s Word to resist compromising temptations.
With Christ in us, Satan’s accusations against us are mere words on the wind that do not find their mark in our soul (Revelation 12:10; Ephesians 6:16). Our position in Christ is one of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17), regardless of our failings and shortcomings.
We find our true identity in the work of God in our life, not in our human traditions or accomplishments. In our self, there is no good thought, word or deed (Romans 7:18). Only through Christ can we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:15-25), and fulfill God’s plan for our life (Ephesians 2:10).
Prior to coming to Christ and repenting of our sins, we listened to the satanic leading in our life. We were slaves to sin, until Christ set us free (Romans 6:15-23; John 8:36). God’s Spirit changes our desires and exchanges our weaknesses with His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Satan’s temptation no longer wields any power over us (John 12:31; 1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Our focus is not on gratifying our desires and aspirations, protecting our reputation, achieving personal accomplishments and goals, and pursuing more possessions and wants (I John 2:16), but on God’s perfect plans for us.
This prevents negative thoughts and emotions – lies from the devil’s workshop – from influencing our life and causing negative actions and reactions. Walking in the Spirit keeps us balanced, peaceful, content and committed to our Savior and Lord.
Prayer:
Father God, once we come to trust You with our whole heart, we no longer need to fight to preserve our self, our possessions and our achievements (Philippians 3:8). Thank You that once we come to Christ for His eternal salvation, we are a new creation, which is not possessed by satanic opposition, temptation and influences.
You never tempt us (James 1:13), but You strengthen us to stand against satanic attempts to render us ineffective for work in Your Kingdom. You test us (Hebrews 11:17; John 6:6), so that we can see what we are made of and where our weaknesses still reside within us, which enables us to cooperate with Your Spirit’s sanctifying process and to become more like Jesus with each passing day (Hebrews 4:15).
Thought for the Day:
Although we still live in this world after our encounter of repentance with Jesus Christ, we are no longer part of this world, or influenced by the mindset, worldview and philosophy of this world; we may be tempted by our own desires, but due to the Trinity of God within us, we have the power to stand against our flesh, the world and the devil.
- John 17:11-16; Matthew 4:1; Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; James 1:14
