Living for Jesus isn’t easy. Many times we are doing just fine, while praying, reading the Bible daily, and finding ways to serve the Lord. However, then comes a temptation that has taken down the wrong path in the past. It is heavy and hard to resist. Because of how Satan puts the thoughts in our minds, along with pictures, it is very hard to resist. It is like an evil spirit is pulling us towards the temptation and making it hard to not fall into. This is that one temptation that causes us to take our minds off of God and onto the lusts of the flesh instead. And so we fall hard, not knowing how sinful our actions were until it is over. This is when we either brush it under the rug and not think about it, or come to the Lord about it in our confessions. Only by being sincere in not doing it again, does the Lord see us as being humble and forgive us. Repentance means giving up something that could tie us to that temptation. And so we turn from those things and allow God to replace it. This is necessary in order to fully surrender our lives to Jesus and His kingdom.
Giving up what is sinful in our lives may not be easy. You may need to pray and fast about it many times before your urges go away. Finding a class that can help you stop also shows God that you are interested in moving forward and not going backwards. Please understand that our flesh is weak, but our Spirit is willing, as Jesus said. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) So what is the solution? It is crucial to continuously watch and pray. So when temptation comes, our focus will be upon God, and He will be our protector and not let us fall. Paul said, “see that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15-17) What this means is to continually be in prayer. Our thoughts are perpetually focused on God. This way we won’t do what is evil and think it is good. We will know better than to do that. Just know that God is there for you when you fall. Get back up and tell Him sorry, and he will help you. There is mercy and forgiveness for us still. Amen.
The flesh and spirit will continue to conflict as long as we live