Seeing the Options

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. Romans 7:18 (New American Standard Bible)

Paul had it right! He was not being narcissistic, he was being realistic. In his flesh, in my flesh, in your flesh nothing good lives. Galatians 5:19-20 spells it out even clearer. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. I have had to come to realize that as long as I live in this body those things will be in me. They are as present and as real as my bones, blood vessels, and muscles. Some are more evident than others. Some surface more frequently than others. But when it is all said and done they are in me.

Why do I stress that to myself and to those reading this devotional? Because for years I lived with the idea that spiritual maturity meant the eventual elimination of them. I thought I should and could reach a point where they would no longer be in me. I thought God could so change me from the inside out that the components of my flesh would somehow be removed. That kind of thinking only set me up for disappointment and discouragement when one or the other “works of my flesh” would appear and shake things up.

Last night was a moment of truth for me. In the midst of a reality check I took a cold, hard look at that which resides in me and with slow and deliberate words I said, “As long as I live in this world, you will always be in me. In this life you are NOT going away.” Did that realization discourage me? No! It relieved me of the pressure I had been putting on myself. It shifted my attention off what could not be changed to what could be changed. The works of my flesh will not change BUT the effect of those works can.

I do not have a choice whether or not I will experience the feelings of my fleshly nature (such as anger, jealousy, self pity, etc…) but I have a choice on whether or not I will let them control me. Being able to do all things through Christ, means I can walk in victory over those things. How? By acknowledging the truth and choosing to react differently to situations. By asking God to help me not give in to my ruling passions. By making a conscientious decision to be ruled by the Spirit instead of by my flesh. Is it easy? No! The pull of my flesh is strong and often I want to give in to it. But when I choose not to, the victory is sweet!

For a long time I have detected the internal shifts in myself that come with flesh moments. The difference is that now I am aware of other options and alternatives that are within my reach.

Father, this aspect of my flesh is as easy to spot now as my brown eyes. Thank you that I am finally seeing how to live in victory rather than defeat. Amen.

East to West - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yza2tru9Z4k&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.