For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. – Galatians 5:17

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. – Luke 9:23

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. – John 15:4

This morning, I woke up again early to pray. Honestly, since my last posts this has been consistent, and I love it. Why? The quiet; the slow fade into day; the way no one is calling; It’s great. I’ve finally got where I fall asleep before midnight and get up before six. About time eh?

To be honest, it’s been a struggle. I’d try to make myself go to sleep, then lay there until two. Other times I’d set the alarm, but not get up till eight. I failed time and again. Another part of my life I’ve fought with is the gym. I go, don’t get me wrong, but I still don’t crave it like I once did. I make myself do it. Perhaps once day soon I’ll get those endorphins back that make me crave it. I don’t know. Then there’s writing, which I love, but day in and day out it’s the same story of me kicking myself to get started. Afterwords I glow all day, because I love it.

Truth: Sometimes, our flesh, is a bigger enemy than the devil. It is an enemy that you must conquer to be set apart for God. Your flesh is a quitter, a complainer, and will NATURALLY do everything contrary to what the Spirit desires. It is at war with the reborn spirit (Galatians 5:17). But, not like we war with Satan, but rather as a lazy, selfish, part of us that always tries to take the wheel and drive us somewhere we don’t need to be.

Our job is to put this flesh in check. It’s part of that dreaded word, discipline, which is the root word for discipleship. Now, wait, don’t think I’ve got this all down, I don’t. But, I will tell you this, I’m making some progress. I’m not the moron I once was. I do finally know that if I go with every feeling this glorious piece of meat feels, I will wind up broken, divorced, empty, and mad at everyone. I’ll wind up blaming God for it all, as this flesh can’t take responsibility. I’ll wind up broke and miserable or rich and miserable, cause the only type of riches this flesh can grab are those that are either quick or deprave, both of which Proverbs says goes away, but leaves sorrow, or stays with sorrow.

One thing that really helps me is one sermon I heard by a great guy on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. His daughter had Mono. One day during the sermon he explained that people who get it, keep it (without a miracle). He said that the person had to keep their immune system strong, or Mono would try to sneak back in and take control. He applied that to our flesh. We must daily, take it to prayer, ask God for grace to control it, reprogram it with the word, and put it in line every time it tries to take the reigns.

C.S. Lewis described it like this in “The Problem of Pain.” Adam controlled his flesh totally by the grace and power he got from God. The moment Adam disconnected himself from God, the flesh reverted back to it’s Animal instincts. It was made from the same dirt as dogs and raccoons. When we are disconnected from God this flesh reverted back to instincts: first, survival; second ,procreation, and normalcy is mixed in there as well. When they mix unchecked you have a selfish, spineless, pervert who watches out for #1 above all else. Or in other words, the opposite of Christ. To make things worse mankind got so far from God over the years that eventually he had to be called on (Genesis 4:26), then he said His spirit wouldn’t contend (struggle, put up with) with man because he is all flesh (Genesis 6:3). Then, in mercy, God shortened our lives so we wouldn’t be tormented by the results of our selfishness for hundreds of years. Sorry Twilight fans, it’s better to not eat the forbidden fruit. Bella made a bonehead decision. Life here, forever; no thanks. Our spirits lost control of the flesh, and now life of earth can be hell – without the peace of God.

When we were born again our Spirit was renewed and plugged back into God. The old damage is done, but now we have the power to master this flesh again. But we MUST be connected to the vine, Jesus. We MUST abide in him. We must have HIS grace. We get it on our knees, and in the Word. We fast to master it. Why? Without mastering this flesh, your one in a million, and in no way set apart for God. You are an animal. That’s why evolutionist get confused. Our bodies are not made in the image of God as God is a spirit (John 4:24). And without the Spirit ruling it, we are animals. Crazy.

Today, before you get going take some time and get the power-up you need from God. Examine yourself. Is selfishness the motive for what your planning to do today? Have to been trying to control this thing without being hooked up to Christ? Is fear driving? Does fear decide what your doing with your life? The root of fear is the survival mode; that’s flesh. Get wisdom instead, it accomplishes everything you want fear to, without locking you in chains.

Today, either my spirit will drive or my flesh will. So…

I better go pray.