The War Inside

In the counseling world I see too often the war inside all of us. If you want to follow Jesus, you are in the battle. However, we often don’t know or fail to recognize that there is a battle within us. We get surprised as though something strange were happening to us (1 Peter 4:12). There can also be shame tied to that battle when we choose to listen to the flesh and not listen to the Holy Spirit, who is trying to help us.

Let’s dive a little more into this battle. Galatians 5:17 (NASB) says “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” (or wish).

Paul is urging this church to walk in the Spirit and to not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

He goes on to say how the works of the flesh are clearly seen, and then he contrasts that with the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control, and those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:22-24).

It is a battle that we have to put the flesh to death every day. This relates with needing to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Yes, God‘s Spirit and our flesh are at war with each other. The flesh has its lusts and wages war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). But, don’t give up!

We have His Holy Spirit helping us. Let’s live in the Spirit and therefore walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). He is worthy of our trust. Let’s keep in step with Him, following His lead.

Thank you, Lord, for Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for setting us free from our flesh and that we no longer need to be a slave to it. Paul says in Romans 6:19 how we used to present our members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now we are to present our members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

Even though the flesh may be calling our name and whispering temptations to us, we no longer have to say “yes” to it. We were a slave to it, but now we serve a different master – King Jesus. We now serve Him; we serve a better master. And as we continue to submit to him, he is continuing to purify us. He is transforming us from glory to glory into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Be encouraged, God is at work within you. He who began a good work will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

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