Oh God! Make these fleshly legs to walk in the Spirit!
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1) Yes! Christ delivered me from the yoke of slavery to sin and He has declared me free, covered in His blood that washes me white as snow. Yet, I still live as though bound by chains. When He saved me He set me free and gave me amazing victory over so many grotesque sinful areas in my life. Now, after several years of rapid growth in faith and love and study, He is revealing so many more areas where sin holds me captive. The devil cannot hold me captive any longer, for I am a slave of Christ. But, the evil sinful nature buried deep within my flesh still beckons me to yearn for earthly trash rather than the treasure of my risen Savior. I read the Scripture that tells me I am free and I believe the Word to be truth. Why don't I feel free?
"You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you." (Gal. 5:7-8) I don't feel freedom because part of me is serving myself. I'm lifting my fleshly desires up as an idol. I'm committing the great sin of Israel! I'm attempting to fall on my face before the great God of the universe, begging for victory from sin, all the while dabbling in idolatry. On this path I will never experience the complete freedom Christ has declared over me by His Blood. He tells me in His Word, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (Gal. 5:16-17) Amen! How true! My flesh is in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit that lives inside me which is what causes this intense 'Romans 7' struggle. The harder I try to correct my errors the further I stray from the Lord. The more I try to free myself from sin the worse my idolatry becomes as I trust in my own willpower rather than in the power of the Almighty God.
Why does a Christian walk into temptation and bow to the lusts of the flesh? Because he/she does not find her joy and satisfaction in Christ so she seeks it elsewhere. "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jer. 2:13) What is the solution? Paul said in 2 Cor. 1:24, "Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm." Paul worked for his own joy in Christ and for the joy of others in Christ. We are to fight for joy knowing that only God can change our hearts so that we experience this joy in Him. If we find joy and satisfaction in Christ, we won't seek it in food, television, internet, friendships, shopping, insert your idol. If you find yourself struggling in this way, please read When I Don't Desire God by John Piper. Also, you might be encouraged by Hunger for God by John Piper.
Oh God! Grant me a heart that is truly satisfied in You alone! Make these legs of flesh to walk in Your Spirit, who dwells in me. Make me desire to keep my body healthy as a fit member of Your temple. Make me to come to the Fountain of Living Water for my nourishment and to cease my breaking of the 2nd commandment. Crush the cistern that I've hewn for myself! Create in me a clean heart, Oh God! (Ps. 51:10) Make me to delight only in You!
I pray that You would bless the efforts of the upcoming study of "At the Lord's Table" by Mike Cleveland, beginning at our church this Sunday. I pray that You would grant this group of sinful ladies victory as we seek Your face and seek to find our joy and satisfaction in You alone. I pray that we would walk in the Spirit and deny our flesh. I pray that You would hold us up in our weakness.
Scriptures for Encouragement:
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:10) "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) "Delight yourselves in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
"You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you." (Gal. 5:7-8) I don't feel freedom because part of me is serving myself. I'm lifting my fleshly desires up as an idol. I'm committing the great sin of Israel! I'm attempting to fall on my face before the great God of the universe, begging for victory from sin, all the while dabbling in idolatry. On this path I will never experience the complete freedom Christ has declared over me by His Blood. He tells me in His Word, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." (Gal. 5:16-17) Amen! How true! My flesh is in direct opposition to the Holy Spirit that lives inside me which is what causes this intense 'Romans 7' struggle. The harder I try to correct my errors the further I stray from the Lord. The more I try to free myself from sin the worse my idolatry becomes as I trust in my own willpower rather than in the power of the Almighty God.
Why does a Christian walk into temptation and bow to the lusts of the flesh? Because he/she does not find her joy and satisfaction in Christ so she seeks it elsewhere. "My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jer. 2:13) What is the solution? Paul said in 2 Cor. 1:24, "Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm." Paul worked for his own joy in Christ and for the joy of others in Christ. We are to fight for joy knowing that only God can change our hearts so that we experience this joy in Him. If we find joy and satisfaction in Christ, we won't seek it in food, television, internet, friendships, shopping, insert your idol. If you find yourself struggling in this way, please read When I Don't Desire God by John Piper. Also, you might be encouraged by Hunger for God by John Piper.
Oh God! Grant me a heart that is truly satisfied in You alone! Make these legs of flesh to walk in Your Spirit, who dwells in me. Make me desire to keep my body healthy as a fit member of Your temple. Make me to come to the Fountain of Living Water for my nourishment and to cease my breaking of the 2nd commandment. Crush the cistern that I've hewn for myself! Create in me a clean heart, Oh God! (Ps. 51:10) Make me to delight only in You!
I pray that You would bless the efforts of the upcoming study of "At the Lord's Table" by Mike Cleveland, beginning at our church this Sunday. I pray that You would grant this group of sinful ladies victory as we seek Your face and seek to find our joy and satisfaction in You alone. I pray that we would walk in the Spirit and deny our flesh. I pray that You would hold us up in our weakness.
Scriptures for Encouragement:
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:10) "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37) "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) "Delight yourselves in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
Colleene,
I just love your blog! You are so encouraging and inspiring. I pray God uses your love for Him, your gifts and your love for His Word to make a difference in the lives of many!
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Cindy, praise God for your encouraging words! I am so pleased that the Lord has been magnified and pray that, as you said, many will be blessed through study of His amazing Word. I pray that every word I type will bring glory and honor to the name of Christ, thereby glorifying the Father in heaven.
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