At the Behest of my Flesh
As I ponder the quest to my rest, I am guilty of delaying my yes, at the behest of my flesh. Most days, my first reflex is to acquiesce to the request of my flesh, but I detest my flesh and through the power of the Spirit, I contest my flesh, wrest my flesh, desire to best my flesh, in hopes to arrest my flesh. I keep reminding him that he’s an unwelcomed guest in my flesh and that he’s too underdressed to play chess with a King who can checkmate him in one move or less. Ah, but as I move toward my spiritual rest, I delay my yes at the behest of my flesh. Every day, in my own power, I am hard-pressed to check my flesh. Ya’ll, it’s complex. So, I must live and move in Him who was made manifest in the flesh in order to divest my flesh, undress my flesh, depress my flesh and give me recess from my flesh. Lest I forget the One who said come to me and I will give you rest and the One whose passion and death removed my sin as far as the East is from the West, I will daily return to Calvary, the place of the Ultimate Love fest. But, sometimes I am guilty of delaying my yes at the behest of my flesh. Through the Spirit’s power, I will pass the test and my flesh won’t best me today, misdirect me today, negatively affect me today. Ya’ll, I’m walking in the Spirit. I can hear it, that is, His voice, leading me, guiding me, prodding me, prompting me, pushing me, convicting me, changing me, transforming me. I don’t desire to delay my yes at the behest of my flesh. But, why do I say yes to the request of my flesh? Here in lies my stress. So, I must ingest and digest the life and words of the One who gave me this new nature living inside my chest. But, I must confess, I am guilty of delaying my yes at the behest of my flesh. Who will deliver me from the mess of my flesh? Ah, yes! Jesus, the One who bested sin and death.
How has your flesh/sinful nature delayed your “yes” to our heavenly Father? How will you use your mind and body as instruments of righteousness under the Spirit’s control today?
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Tags: Self Reflection
May 26th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
"…new nature living inside my chest…" I love that line! Ok, now I'm in poet mode…
June 1st, 2009 at 11:10 am
Wow! Uplifting and inspiring. “All hail the best to ever wear the crest” Jesus.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Thanks. Actually, you and Mike helped to inspire me to go deeper with this one. Thanks.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
"Calvary, the place of the Ultimate Love Fest"… puts an appropriately sweet perspective on what took place on the Cross.
Sounds like you and "the flesh" are duking it out for real. You took the gloves off with this piece Pastor!
June 1st, 2009 at 2:07 pm
R2, thanks for the encouragement. You are one of my pace cars in returning to the poet in me. Thanks, my brother! Looking forward to posting some of your joints! I might have to steal that line you posted. lol! Grace and peace.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:23 pm
DC, welcome back! I value your perspective. Everyday me my sinful nature duke it out – whether I am going to obey is or obey the Spirit. It's not big things; it's the every day decisions – read my Bible, pray, share the gospel with people, love my wife to the point of death to self, etc. Every day we have to decide who we will feed more. I would be lying if I told you the Spirit wins everyday. We are all on a journey of giving Him more and more control, right? Grace and peace.